A few years ago, I heard someone mention that ketchup can restore tarnished silver. Apparently, the acidity of the tomatoes reacts with the oxidizing of the tarnished silver making it come back to life, all sparkly and new. Now, I have to admit, I was really skeptical. I researched the theory online and found mixed results, so I decided to give it a try myself.

Here’s what I did: I squeezed ketchup on a soft cloth (I used a flour sack) and liberally rubbed the ketchup on the silver in a circular motion – making sure I got it into all of the nooks and crannies. I let it sit for about 13(ish) minutes, then rinsed the ketchup off with warm water and dried the pitcher with another soft cloth. *If you decide to test out this theory yourself, make sure you test-drive the ketchup cleaner on an inconspicuous place on your silver piece.

Pretty good results, right? Yeah, the dark areas stayed the same, but the rest of the tarnished areas are very much improved. So maybe it works for slight tarnishing, but if you haven’t cleaned your silver for years, it might be time to break out the Tarnex.

Have you tried this theory before? Did it work for you? Have any other silver-cleaning tips?

I’m a self-proclaimed paper fanatic. Notebooks, stationery, cards, envelopes – you name it, I’m there. With bells on. Especially when it comes to wrapping paper. Over the weekend, I was “window shopping” for some new and interesting wrapping paper. During my quest, I started to notice that some of the by-the-sheet gift wrap was so detailed and unique it could easily pass as bionafied art. Well, it is art. And it looks even better framed!

Floral, abstract, maps, illustrated, modern. With so many styles to choose from, it’s pretty safe to say you’ll be able to find some art wrapping paper to fit your style. Ordinarily the wrapping paper designs by-the-sheet run around $4.00 – which isn’t bad for a unique art print. Here are some of my favorite wrapping paper turned art possibilities…

Marigolds | Brush Stroke Gold | Pixel | Dogs | Lokta | Penguin Book Titles | Records
Boston Map | Chicago Points of Interests | Lotus | Yuzen Cherry Blossom Clusters

So, what do you think? Next time you’re in a pinch for some wall art, are you going to double-check the gift wrap section. You never know!

Frame from Pottery Barn.

We’ve mentioned a few times our love for classic TV shows and the fact that Greg and I both really enjoy I Love Lucy. A show we love just as much is The Dick Van Dyke Show. Rob, Laura, Richie, Buddy, Sally, Mel, Jerry, and Millie… they all feel like a part of our family. Yes, that sounds super corny, I know. But it’s true. I’ve seen every single episode, multiple times, except for the very last one. I just can’t bring myself to watch it. Even though the show aired 50-some years ago, I refuse to think of it as “over”.

Rob and Laura’s New Rochelle home is hands down one of my favorite TV houses. It’s what I’d call “Traditional Mid-Century”. There’s no doubt about the Mid-Century aspect, but if you look closer, you’ll see a hint of Traditional here and there – like the coffee table in the living room for instance.

I love the openness of the whole house. The bedrooms, den, and kitchen open up into the living room and the dining area is just a few steps from the sofa. I also love the wall of bricks. In the episode Give Me Your Walls, a painter comes to the house to paint the living room and Laura quickly says “Don’t touch the bricks!”.

Right off the living room is the master bedroom. Like most, if not all, TV bedrooms of the 50′s and 60′s, Rob and Laura’s had two twin beds rather than one queen/king. The beds were separated by a bedside table In the later seasons, the set designer switched out the table lamp for a spiffy pendent light as seen below (a good idea for freeing up beside table space!).

On the other side of the bedroom is a window seat (When I was little, I called them “pop out windows” and begged my parents to buy a house with one). I love the tall Mid-Century dresser in the corner. On the wall opposite the beds is a dressing table/vanity – something I’ve always wanted in our bedroom!

Back through the living room is the kitchen. I love this open kitchen! Yeah, to today’s standard it’d be considered “dated”, but it has a really great layout and not to mention a great big island. Behind the wall the refrigerator is on is a small walkthrough to the living room.

Rob and Laura had open shelving before it was cool! On the other side of the shelves is a sliding door out to the patio and a door that leads to the garage. To the right of Laura is a small broom closet (yay for storage!).

Want to add some Dick Van Dick Show Mid-Century flair to your space? Here’s how to get the look:

1. Leaf Bowl ($98.00) | 2. KleinReid Gourd Table Lamp ($379) | 3. The Petrie Sofa ($1,599) | 4. Whitman Round Coffee Table ($105) | 5. Mid-Century Coffee Pot Carafe ($14) | 6. Walnut Sunburst Clock ($149) | 7. Opaque Glass Frame ($24) | 8. Quinn Chair ($799) | 9. Quinn Ottoman ($399)

The episode photos above were captured from the following episodes: The Talented Neighborhood, You’re Under Arrest, I Am My Brother’s Keeper and That’s My Boy (my all-time favorite episode!). You can watch all 159 episodes on Hulu.