Studio Mehler has represented the exquisite cabinetry of Eggersman for several years. The quality German engineering, the sophistication of the design and the availability of customization in sizes and colors has made this exceptional line a highlight of our showroom. Metric Home, representing Eggersman in the United States, also offers custom closets, wall furniture, kitchen seating and doors. Please visit their website for more information and view the following video of the new release of the elegant, innovative kitchens from Eggersman. I think you’ll see why we are so excited about this line of unique cabinetry. www.metrichome.com

This spacious kitchen, designed in conjunction with J.Allen Sayles Architect, was recently featured on the Orinda kitchen tour. The former 8’ ceiling was removed and windows and doors were added to open the kitchen to the beautifully landscaped yard and adjacent family room. A “secret” pantry was built into the casework, a doorway was moved away from the adjacent dining room to define the formal and casual sections of the home and a hutch, banquette and desk were added to complete the list of client requirements. The result is a warm, welcoming space large enough for everyone to enjoy.

We tend to forget this comparison until we hear the words “drought” and “rationing” which are back in this year’s vocabulary in spite of the recent rains. The most comprehensive study from the University of Bonn estimates that hand washing dishes 2-3 times per day uses approximately 15.8 gallons of water per day versus 3.17 gallons per dishwasher cycle. On an annual basis Bosch uses the figures 6,974 gallons for hand washing versus 698 gallons for dishwashing. One key in this comparison – scrape the dishes don’t rinse them clean before you put them into the dishwasher! Even with a little rinsing the difference in water consumption is substantial.

Most people think we’re nuts to ask this question but it’s a very common, overlooked issue. All of the better water saving dishwashers have smaller apertures on the spray arms so they can get a more intense propulsion to spray the dishes with less water. The smaller these hole are the more likely they clog up. 90% of the time one or more of these holes are blocked which prevents you from getting a uniform, clean wash. Pull out the spray arms, poke the crud from the holes, flip over them over and rinse them out – five minutes tops and your dishwasher works like new.

The clever table bed from Inova has been a hit in our showroom since the day we opened. Extra rooms for empty nesters or small city apartments are perfectly suited for this clever item. The patented “kneeling” mechanism allows for a full sized mattress to be used without the normal discomfort of a typical sleeper sofa. The same mechanism is available in the form of a couch. The couch literally folds down and acts as the base of the bed. Visit our showroom to see the table bed in action or visit Inova’s website for more information. www.inovallc.com

Ever simply run out of time to do the most mundane tasks? We’ve discovered a service called “Let Me Get It Done” Almost anything you can imagine can be handled by this person or someone she knows whether it’s repairing a broken air conditioner, running to the grocery, picking up the laundry, shop for a gift….the list goes on. Visit the website and be sure to read the testimonials. This is a site to be bookmarked since you just never know when your “to do” list is much longer than available minutes in a day. www.letmegetitdone.com