Q: Bedbugs seem to be everywhere these days. How can I keep them out of my home?
A: These insects, which have flat, rust-colored bodies about the size of a lentil, hitch rides on luggage, clothing, shoes and furniture. To keep them out, control what comes in. One way to reduce your risk: Avoid secondhand furniture. Bedbugs love to nest in the seams and folds of upholstered pieces, but they also inhabit fabric-free items such as dressers and nightstands.
In hotels, it's a good idea to inspect the bed as soon as you arrive (the critters avoid daylight, so look in crevices). Store bags on luggage racks, and keep them closed when you don't need access to them. When you leave, check your belongings for unwelcome stowaways.
Apartments are particularly vulnerable to bedbugs, which can easily gain entry from neighbors' homes through cracks in the floors or walls. Keep the bugs at bay by cutting clutter, moving furnishings away from walls, and checking mattresses and pillows from time to time. And if bedbugs do find their way in, call a licensed exterminator who specializes in integrated pest management — the most effective way to remove the insects.
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Q: Can I make vanilla extract at home?
A: Yes. All you need is a vanilla bean, some vodka and a glass vessel with a tight seal.
Split the bean lengthwise with a sharp paring knife, and then use its tip to loosen the seeds by gently scraping inside the pod. Pour ½ cup of vodka into a clean glass jar with a cork stopper or a screw-top lid. Submerge the pod and the seeds, and leave them to soak at room temperature for one to two months. During this time, if you make dishes that call for vanilla seeds, add any scraped pods to the jar to further strengthen the taste. Once the extract is ready, discard the beans, and store the jar in the refrigerator. It will keep for up to a year.
Consider making it as a gift for foodie friends and those who enjoy baking. If you want to fill several bottles in one batch, it's worth buying the vanilla pods in bulk; try beanilla.com, which also sells glass jars.
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Q: Is there a rule about combining different colors of wood in furniture?
A: A room that's full of perfectly matched wood can seem stale and lifeless. In the words of Martha Stewart Living's Kevin Sharkey, "Matched sets are a thing of the past."
In nature, different types of trees look beautiful together. Bring that idea into your home. Dramatize furniture made with dark wood by pairing it with pale surfaces and rich upholstery. Or bring out the warmth in light woods with a scattering of bright color. But keep in mind that color should subtly link each piece to something else. Pillows, a grouping of vases, a lampshade — they can all serve to fill out your color palette.
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