Smart Home Designs: Jenny's Tips

I've tried every glass cleaner under the sun it seems like, just searching for a product that really cleans my windows and mirrors and leaves no streaks or residue behind.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_0910copy.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2018/IMG_0910copy.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><br />Kate is my new assistant (she is helping me with Domino and book projects mostly) and before this she worked for Anthropologie. She recently taught me this little trick she learned there for cleaning glass, and it's just too good not to share:<br /><br /><a name="more"></a>Step 1: Have dirty windows. :)<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_0893.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2018/IMG_0893.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Step 2: Grab any glass cleaner and a piece of regular old kraft paper (although white works a little better than the brown we've learned).</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_0899.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2018/IMG_0899.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><br /><center></center>Step 3: Spray your glass and the folded up kraft paper with the cleaner.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_0887.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2018/IMG_0887.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Step 4: Wipe away the liquid (and the dirt and grime with it) and be amazed at how unbelievably streak and fuzz-free your windows are now! Replace the kraft paper as needed (though one piece will clean a lot of glass).</div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_0880.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2018/IMG_0880.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Step 5: Enjoy your squeaky clean windows! </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I don't know what it is about the kraft paper that works so, so differently than paper towels or even my favorite microfiber towels, but somehow the kraft paper removes every speck of anything on the glass. It's magic.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_0931.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2018/IMG_0931.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Thanks for the tip, Kate (and Anthro)!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_1066.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2018/IMG_1066.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div>

Streak-Free Windows

I've tried every glass cleaner under the sun it seems like, just searching for a product that really cleans my windows and mirrors and l...

<center></center>Phoenix is just about the best place to live between the months of November and April. The weather here right now is <i>gorgeous</i>. But beside the perfect winters, the vintage furniture shopping is pretty great and affordable.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_8635.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2016/IMG_8635.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_9652.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2016/IMG_9652.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><br /><a href="http://instagram.com/p/jzNxWYQW3i/" target="_blank">This pair of vintage Henredon sofas</a> was my most recent purchase. $80 for the pair! The coral Brunschwig and Fils fabric is in almost perfect condition too. I've got just the right spot for these after they get a good deep cleaning with <a href="http://littlegreennotebook.blogspot.com/2011/05/dear-jenny-cleaning-upholstery.html" target="_blank">my favorite upholstery cleaner</a> and my steamer (and after I pull off the skirts!).<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_1662.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2016/IMG_1662.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_1612.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2016/IMG_1612.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><br />Here are a few other recents finds and some of my tips for scoring the good stuff:<br /><a name="more"></a><br />Being a successful vintage shopper has a lot to do with frequency - if I have two free minutes when I'm passing a thrift store, I'll always pop in and make a beeline for the furniture section.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_9630.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2016/IMG_9630.jpg" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_5880.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2016/IMG_5880.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_9737.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2016/IMG_9737.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><br />After a couple of years of hardcore thrifting I can usually speed read a store and I'll only need a few seconds to see if there's anything good. And really, is there anything better than spotting something really, really great from the front of the store? I've been known to break into a full sprint on occasion. :)<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_8987.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2016/IMG_8987.jpg" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_86662.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2016/IMG_86662.jpg" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_9375.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2016/IMG_9375.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><br />This one is no secret, but if you know a part of your city where a lot of senior citizens live, you'll probably find some of the best vintage shopping around.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_1679.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2016/IMG_1679.jpg" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>(a good sign I was shopping in the right neighborhood!) :)</i></div><i><br /></i>If you're lucky enough to live in Florida (as any search for anything vintage on eBay will quickly tell you), you're going to be swimming in midcentury beauties.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_5900.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2016/IMG_5900.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_7617.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2016/IMG_7617.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_8974.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2016/IMG_8974.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>Arizona has a great retirement-age population, so the vintage shopping here is not lacking, but I've been able to find these pockets of older-generation communities in every city we've lived in over the past ten years. There are so many great deals to be had everywhere!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_5888.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2016/IMG_5888.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_9742.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2016/IMG_9742.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_7726.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2016/IMG_7726.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_8615.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2016/IMG_8615.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><br />Some of my very best vintage furniture deals were found in rural Delaware and Pennsylvania. As it turns out, people lived and furnished their homes in the 50s, 60s and 70s there too! ;)<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_8973.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2016/IMG_8973.jpg" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_8531.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2016/IMG_8531.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><br />The BEST trick I have up my sleeve though is to search for "used furniture stores" or "furniture consignment" plus your zip code on Google or Bing maps.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_6571.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2016/IMG_6571.jpg" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_6575x.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2016/IMG_6575x.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>Thrift stores are great, but the vast majority of the stuff you'll find there now will be from the 90s and early 2000s. Antique stores can be amazing, but you'll pay for the dealer's eye which usually means a big mark up.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_0034.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2016/IMG_0034.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><br />I love eBay and Chairish and Craigslist for the times that I'm looking for something very specific that's in great condition. Estate sales are also really awesome, but they can be a lot of work and sort of time consuming. I don't do yard sales at all any more because they waste too much time and gas.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_7722.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2016/IMG_7722.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><br />Used furniture and consignment stores are where it's at, friends. Don't get me wrong. You'll still see all sorts of junk at these places, but there will almost always be vintage treasures to be had at ridiculously low prices!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_1667.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2016/IMG_1667.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_1676.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2016/IMG_1676.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_1671.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2016/IMG_1671.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><br />One of my friends, who bought this great iron chair on a recent shopping trip together, is so smart and likes to say hello to whomever is working near the front or at the register of the store and then just sort of shoots the breeze for a minute with them. And then she asks in the nicest way if there are any special sales happening that day. She's not being fake, she's just being friendly. And friendly people get treated, well, like friends! I've been using her approach since then and, I kid you not, nine times out of ten the salesperson will give me a little price break when I'm checking out without me even asking for it, just to be nice. It's <i>amazing. </i>Especially when you do as much thrifting and vintage shopping as I do - every 5 or 10% off really adds up! :)<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_9634.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2016/IMG_9634.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><br />What are your tips and tricks for finding the best vintage furniture? Have you found any amazing deals lately?

Vintage Furniture Shopping Tips and Tricks

Phoenix is just about the best place to live between the months of November and April. The weather here right now is gorgeous . But beside t...

Smart Home Designs

Streak-Free Windows

Vintage Furniture Shopping Tips and Tricks

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