Nice people thread part 7 - a thread in its prime

PasturesNew

lostinrates wrote: »

I have a very old architectural digest with a feature in his (then? ) home.

This one? http://www.yossawat.com/2008/06/lance-armstrongs-house-interior-design-by-roy-w-materanek/

lostinrates

PasturesNew wrote: »

I think that might be a feature of the higher price bracket items
Bit of a posh alert maybe.... new builds is a bit of a posh alert in its own right as there's the "new premium".

I think my oven here is new... it's a Beko, probably £239 (Currys: http://www.currys.co.uk/gbuk/beko-bd532aw-electric-cooker-white-14402269-pdt.html ). Regular hob and oven. http://www.beko.co.uk/Item/D532


What about boilers, where the cost of installing/mtaining the system over X years of lifespan can work out quite a lot?

I think many peoe who cook prefer gas hob and electric oven.

Perhaps we should double check by asking gen's au pair?

It would be my preference tbh. In the future who knows, I might consider a gas bottle for a gas hob, but, no time soon.

HAMISH_MCTAVISH

lostinrates wrote: »

gas hob and electric oven.

That's the best combination IMO.

Gas hob certainly better than electric hob for controlling heat when cooking, and electric oven more convenient than gas.

PasturesNew

I have used a couple of gas hobs over the years - never for a long time. I struggle to safely balance saucepans etc on them... they make me nervous. I also had a friend who reached over in a dressing gown and set fire to her dressing gown arm on the flames.

Hobs might be OK if all you ever use are big saucepans, but I tend to be only cooking "for me" with tiny saucepans, real little 'uns.

lostinrates

PasturesNew wrote: »

This one? http://www.yossawat.com/2008/06/lance-armstrongs-house-interior-design-by-roy-w-materanek/

Yes!

The only pic I remembered was of the garden, those pencil cypress with the path. I love it but it felt...unreal.

I note he says about something...it was all the designer.....I think a lot of it was probably all designer. A lot of focus on 'appearance' rather than 'preference' if you see what I mean.

Lots of it is very beautiful....but really, apart form the yellow jerseys.....who lives there? How do you know? There is nothing that tells you about any foible, weakness or endearing but not photogenic aspect of their life. That to me doesn't make for beauty.

It's like a Disney house..l.all the right things re light fittings etc but ...too pristine, perfect...unreal or controlling.

lostinrates

HAMISH_MCTAVISH wrote: »

That's the best combination IMO.

Gas hob certainly better than electric hob for controlling heat when cooking, and electric oven more convenient than gas.

I grew up with electric hob, and while I prefer gas, I have no probs with electric. Annoying additional action if. Flambeing and requires some anticipation...but for a domestic kitchen there are worse compromises than electric upon IMO.

Still, when I win the lottery I have my oven (and that Italian fridge from the daily mail) picked out. And it would be gas hob then.

For the cook to use. (I would still cook of I were stinking rich, but not every day).

PasturesNew

lostinrates wrote: »

(I would still cook of I were stinking rich, but not every day).

The difference is probably that you can say you will be cooking and somebody else can ensure the ingredients are in .... then when you want to start cooking you can do the bits you like, then walk away and leave staff to clear up behind you and keep an eye on the oven

PasturesNew

I keep thinking how much the au pair gets.... room + £620/month, no bills, broadband, use of car ..... it's a shame I don't like kids. That's a better deal than I get from working!

LydiaJ

lostinrates wrote: »

It would be my preference tbh. In the future who knows, I might consider a gas bottle for a gas hob, but, no time soon.

My brother lives off the mains gas network. He has bottled gas for cooking with - a great big bottle outside that's piped into the house and works indoors without you noticing it's not the usual thing.

lostinrates wrote: »

It's like a Disney house..l.all the right things re light fittings etc but ...too pristine, perfect...unreal or controlling.

It looks like a hotel to me. And I'm struck by how many of the chairs look uncomfortable to sit on.

PasturesNew wrote: »

What about boilers, where the cost of installing/mtaining the system over X years of lifespan can work out quite a lot?

Oh sure. Electric systems are often be cheaper to buy and install. That's not the question I was addressing. If you have two heating devices (hobs, room heaters, whatever) that you can pick to heat a particular item (saucepan of water, living space, whatever) then using the electric one will cost more on your electric bill than using the gas one will on your gas bill.

Nikkster

Haven't yet looked up what window quilts are, but when we moved into studio flat with one storage heater and single glazing, I bought some cheap fleecy throws from Primark and hung them behind the curtains via the blanket stitch on the edges. It made quite a difference.

Hobs - I burned my hand fairly badly on an electric hob that had been left on by someone else in shared accomodation. I noticed it seemed warm and so cleverly tested it with the palm of my hand. Ouch!

In the studio, I did the open the oven door after cooking thing too.