There’s a perfect appliance for every stage of life
Betty Byrne, senior home economist for Hamilton Beach Brands, discussed kitchen appliances and her specialty, toasters, with writers Jura Koncius and Terri Sapienza, who answered questions about home decorating. Here is an edited excerpt from their online Q&A session.
Q. What kitchen appliance would make the best wedding gift, housewarming gift for a bachelor and birthday gift for one of my grandparents?
A. For the bachelor, I highly recommend a griddle, as they can be used for complete breakfasts such as bacon, pancakes and eggs, all fast and easy choices. Plus, cleanup is simple; just place in the dishwasher. If he’s a coffee enthusiast, try a coffee maker. They are always useful and come in a wide variety of styles.
For a wedding gift, I’d suggest a slow cooker. This appliance allows the modern family to come home to a healthy, home-cooked and hot meal, saving both money and time!
For a grandparent, a toaster oven would be a great gift. At this point in their lives many are downsizing, and a toaster oven is more versatile than ever. It can cook a roast or bake a cake!
Q. Over Thanksgiving my sister asked us to recommend a fast-toasting toaster, and none of us had an answer! Is there a way to tell how fast a toaster will work?
A. Yes. The higher the wattage of the toaster, the faster it will toast. Wattage is listed on the outside of the packaging or underneath the appliance.
Q. Do you think a blender is a must for every kitchen?
A. I do, because blenders are a staple item in the kitchen. They can be used for everything from sauces to soups to salsas, not to mention smoothies, milkshakes and other icy beverages.
Decorating advice
Q. I have three lamps in search of shades. I was in Gaylord’s Lamps and Shades in Bethesda, Md., and the cheapest are $65! Do you have suggestions for places with a large selection and a wider price range?
Koncius: You can try Target, Ikea and Pottery Barn. Do you all have other ideas?
Editor’s note: Readers suggested Lowe’s, eBay, Ross and Marshalls.
Q. I just painted my office brown, which I love from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The rest of the time, the walls look black! I’ve decided I need to upgrade the lighting (right now there’s one sad little desk lamp). What should I be looking for?
Sapienza: You’ll want to use a combination of overhead and task lighting (table and/or floor lamps) and put everything on a dimmer so you can control the amount of light.
Q. The entry hall of our 1938 center hall Colonial has a bare light bulb. I can’t find a fixture that works with the rest of the ones in the house — all original. The dining room has a brass candelabrum, and the living room has brass candle sconces with lightly etched glass. Help!
Sapienza: I don’t think you need to match your other fixtures. In fact, I would suggest you do something different in your entry. You could go with a lantern, a bell jar fixture or a chandelier — all classic choices that would likely work. But I would just go with something you see that you really love, whether or not you think it “goes” with the other fixtures in your house.