Filtered Tap Water - Some Like It Hot

 

Irwin Weiner ASID - I work every day with clients who are continually adding this new gadget or that to their homes, and sometimes I don't realize that, particularly for homeowners who aren't professionally decorating their homes, many people may not be aware of some nifty appliances or time-saving devices that I take for granted. So here's one that you may or may not already know: the Franke Little Butler. It's been around for awhile, and I've used it a lot. It's a triflow water system, meaning that from your kitchen sink you can run regular tap water, cold filtered tap water, and boiling hot filtered tap water. Actually, you can regulate the hot filtered water to get anything from boiling hot for instant beverages to the lukewarm water called for in many recipes. It's an under-counter filter solution with taps that are integrated so you can get all three water flow options. With so many parts of the country impacted by environmental challenges to their local water supplies, a home water filtration system makes good sense. I was also excited to find the following video from the folks at BoilingWaterTap.org and they've put together a great overview of Franke (in the top photo) and other multi-flow tap systems that are on the market (like Quooker, in the second photo), to help you make an informed purchase.

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Feng Shui Steps to Prepare for 2012

Franca Giuliani - Based on 9 Star Ki astrology, the month of September in general will tend to be a quieter month … just in time to regroup and get back to the basics.

It’s a good idea to add a water feature or some item or painting that represents water in the North section of your home, and leave it there until the beginning of October.

"Out on the Water" / Painting by Elizabeth Robinette Tyndall

This is also a time when interested people tend to seek a consultation by a feng shui practitioner. A consultation can really help one get ready for 2012, since your current environment can be assessed and recommendations can be offered to help you better prosper in this upcoming year - or at least save you from some unnecessary angst.

If you're seeking a practitioner, here are some things to keep in mind:

• Find out what school of feng shui they follow, as there are many different ones with different approaches. One is not better than the other; however, there could be discrepancies in opinions, so it's just good to know what school the recommendations were based on.
• Ask if they also energy clear. Any space can benefit from having it cleared before applying feng shui recommendations.

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