THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, July 7, 1996 TAG: 9607040066
SECTION: HOME PAGE: G1 EDITION: FINAL
COLUMN: AROUND THE HOUSE
SOURCE: BY MARY FLACHSENHAAR, SPECIAL TO HOME & GARDEN
LENGTH: 104 lines
THEMES FROM NATURE stole the show - this spring's annual tile trade show, that is. The tiles decorated with flowers, fruits, vegetables, seashells and fish that starred at the 1996 International Tile & Stone Exposition in Miami will soon flood the market.
According to a press release from the Tile Promotion Board, these fanciful tiles will show up best as bright splashes in a floor or wall of terra-cotta or other tile with a rustic hue.
Tile that looks like natural wood and stone, with random variations in tone, shade and texture, is also a popular newcomer. Decorative tiles with fossil-like images of plants and animals have arrived to accent the stone and wood look-alikes.
Blue, yellow and green are the colors of choice this year, with blue-and-yellow and green-and-yellow the most popular combinations for Old World decorative trim, according to the tile board.
Many styles are available in a variety of sizes and shapes, allowing the home decorator to mix and match on a single surface, a popular approach these days. Tiles of stature, 18-by-18 inches, even 24-by-24 inches, are really big. BUILDING A BETTER LITTER BOX
Presto! Chango! The kitty litter box is clean in one magical instant with the new QuickSand Sifting System.
The patented product from Smart Inventions Inc. consists of three identical trays, each slotted like a sifter. When two trays are stacked together, the slots overlap to form a litter pan with a solid bottom. Nested on top, the
third tray becomes the litter sifter. When the top tray is lifted, waste is removed and unused litter left behind. After it has been emptied, the top tray is returned to the bottom of the stack.
The method is faster, easier and less expensive than the traditional scoop-and-dig approach to litter, according to the manufacturer, who calls the sifter ``the cat's meow.'' The system sells for $19.95 plus $5.95 for shipping and handling. To order call toll-free (800) 917-5577. FINDING THE HARD-TO-FIND
If you haven't been able to find a match to your antique china, your search might end at Replacements Ltd., self-described as ``the world's largest supplier of discontinued and active tableware and collectibles.''
More than 3 million pieces of china, crystal and flatware in over 65,000 patterns are stocked at the Greensboro, N.C., store, which features guided tours every 30 minutes during business hours, 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. seven days a week.
A computer system can tell, usually in seconds, what pieces are available in your pattern. The store also provides a free identification service for pieces without names or markings. And it passes along the following tips on how to ensure that you won't have to seek replacements too often. Brides may want to listen closely:
Wash fine crystal and antique china by hand in warm water with a mild detergent, with a rubber mat or towel to cushion the sink. Contemporary china may be machine-washed only if the words ``dishwasher safe'' appear on back.
Rinse off plates as soon as possible to avoid the stains that strong acids and alkalines in food can cause.
Never use rust remover on china. It can damage the glaze or protective coating. Calcium, lime and rust-remover products can change the color of the metal on gold- and platinum-banded crystal.
Wash sterling flatware, one piece at a time, in warm, soapy water, immediately after use. If that's not possible, give it a quick rinse but don't soak. Never put the handles of sterling knives, which are attached with resins, in hot water. They might come off.
Don't put china in the microwave unless it is designated ``microwave safe.'' Never put dinnerware with metallic banding in the microwave.
Store crystal right side up, or hang upside down on a rack, to protect rims. Hang china cups on a rack to prevent chipping.
Use plate racks to stand plates up, or place a paper towel or piece of flannel between each plate when stacking to prevent scratching.
Store sterling in a case or drawer lined with a soft cloth. Don't use a kitchen drawer that's opened frequently, because exposure to the air promotes tarnishing.
For more information about Replacements, call (800)-REPLACE or write Replacements Ltd., 1089 Knox Road, P.O. Box 26029, Greensboro, N.C. 27420-6029. IT'S IN THE BAG
Is plastic OK?
Sure - until that space under the kitchen sink turns into an untamed sea of plastic grocery bags waiting to be recycled.
Cotton is one answer to the plastic problem - the unbleached cotton duffel bag called The Bag Bag that stores up to 60 plastic bags and dispenses them, one at a time, for reuse. It takes up just 8-by-16 inches of space and can hang from a doorknob or hook in a pantry or garage, even on a boat or in an RV.
The Bag Bag sells for under $3 at Food Lion supermarkets. ILLUSTRATION: Color photo
TILE PROMOTION BOARD
Fanciful tiles, such as these blue and yellow seashells and fish,
accent floors or walls tiled in rustic hues.
Photos
Smart Inventions
A system of three slotted, stacking trays makes it easier to clean
litter boxes.
The Bag Bag, available at Food Lion stores, dispenses plastic
grocery bags. by CNB