Originally published Saturday, August 30, 2008 at 12:00 AM
Comments (0)
E-mail article
Print view
Ask Martha
Better butter storage, and other tips from Martha
Q: I received a beautiful, handmade French butter keeper as a gift, but I'm not sure how it's used. Are you familiar with this type of dish...
Syndicated Columnist
Q: I received a beautiful, handmade French butter keeper as a gift, but I'm not sure how it's used. Are you familiar with this type of dish?
A: Many people like to leave butter at room temperature because it's easier to spread. A French butter keeper — also called a bell or a crock — is a popular way to do this. It consists of a cup that is packed with butter and placed upside down in a water-filled base to form an airtight seal. Not only does a butter keeper make an attractive serving dish, it also keeps butter fresher longer than a regular butter dish. To maintain the seal, replenish the water every few days and keep the butter cup filled.
A butter keeper is not a foolproof substitute for refrigeration. If you live in a hot climate or if the crock is left in direct sunlight, butter won't stay fresh for long, and it will melt. Regardless of which container you use, I find that salted butter keeps better at room temperature than unsalted butter.
Q: Is it possible to change the color of my favorite leather sofa?
A: Leather sofas — like pumps, purses and pants — can be given new color, but you'll need to hire a professional for the job. The method she'll use will depend on the type of sofa you have, says Lonnie McDonald, an upholstery expert with the Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification.
Pieces made from pigmented leather, which account for about 80 percent of all leather sofas sold, can be recoated with urethane paint. You can choose any color, but McDonald recommends selecting a similar shade, because a radically different base color will show through scratches on the new surface. Sofas made from aniline-dyed or nubuck leather must be spray-dyed. With this process, the leather can only be made a deeper shade of the same color, for example, switching from light brown to dark brown. Both treatments cost significantly less than reupholstering, but you may still spend up to $1,000, depending on the size and design of the sofa.
Q: What's your favorite material for kitchen countertops?
A: I really like honed marble. In fact, I have honed-marble countertops in three of my kitchens. The stone I like the most is from Vermont, a white statuary marble with subtle veins of gray and tan. Marble surfaces are excellent for rolling out dough, so even if you don't install it throughout the kitchen — the material can be expensive — you might consider it for an island counter or a small baking station. Marble is porous, so it must be sealed regularly to prevent staining. You also can choose to have it periodically polished, although I don't bother, because I like my counters to age over time.
Q: What are some options for making a bathroom window that faces my neighbor's property private?
A: My advice would be to replace the entire window unit with one that has frosted glass. This will let daylight filter into the bathroom while keeping the room private. A window dealer in your area should be able to fabricate and install the new unit for you. You might ask the dealer to incorporate a louver into the window to help ventilate the bathroom.
Keep in mind that if the window is positioned near a shower or bath, local building codes may require that it be made of shatterproof glass, also known as safety glazing. This glass is available only in clear form, but you can apply a tinted film to it. Alternatively, you can install waterproof window treatments, such as metal blinds or vinyl shades.
Questions may be sent to mslletters@marthastewart.com or Ask Martha, care of Letters Department, Martha Stewart Living, 11 W. 42nd St., New York, NY 10036. Sorry, no personal replies.
Copyright 2008, Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia
More Home & Garden headlines...
E-mail article
Print view Share:
Digg
Newsvine
![]()
This year's hot holiday décor shimmers and delights
Have trouble finding a gift? Here are 6 ideas
Designer Candice Olson helps a family reclaim dining room for entertaining
How to save money, energy on Thanksgiving road trip
Treasures: Sizing up a pewter platter

Opening day at Crystal Mountain
Skiers crowded the slopes at Crystal Mountain for one of the resort's earliest openings.
nwjobs

Post a comment

Michelle Goodman blogs about work/life balance.
How to tell your office you're gravely ill
Post a comment
nwautos

Choosing a new sedan? Weigh the impact of your choice on your wallet and on the planet.
Post a comment
- Homeless man, 46, arrested in Greenwood arsons
- Steve Kelley | ESPN's Bill Simmons gets us: He hates Clay Bennett, too
- KVI talk radio host off the air as of Thursday
- Police investigate videotaped arrest
- Seattle U. Men's Hoops | Big recruit goes from Huskies to Redhawks
- Razor found in muffin an accident, 'mortified' baker says
- Mariners sign Jack Wilson to 2-year contract
- Suspect's family shaken by slaying of police officer
- Mountlake Terrace woman reports razor in muffin
- Ivar's undersea billboards a hoax devised as marketing ploy
- Police investigate videotaped arrest
628 - Seattle man to pack a pistol into community center to protest mayor's ban
180 - Light rail to airport to begin Dec. 19
177 - GOP clueless as families struggle with health care
157 - ESPN's Bill Simmons gets us: He hates Clay Bennett, too
125 - KVI talk radio host off the air as of Thursday
124 - Mariners sign Jack Wilson to 2-year contract
110 - Prosecutor weighs death penalty in police slaying
103 - Wright State game thread
96 - Person of interest in custody in connection with Greenwood arsons
93
- Light rail to airport to begin Dec. 19
- Homeless man, 46, arrested in Greenwood arsons
- Ivar's undersea billboards a hoax devised as marketing ploy
- Steve Kelley | ESPN's Bill Simmons gets us: He hates Clay Bennett, too
- Washington in race for federal education funds
- KVI talk radio host off the air as of Thursday
- Goodwill's Glitter Sale is Nov. 14-15
- Police investigate videotaped arrest
- Boeing: 787 fix is complete on first plane
- Seattle U. Men's Hoops | Big recruit goes from Huskies to Redhawks





