For those who take sewing seriously, and expect performance at the next level, it should be noted that many professionals consider Elna the best sewing machine of its type. For embroidery and high high-detail, the Elna 8600 Xplore is a great machine, and for quilting or other heavy materials, the Elna 7200 is designed to work a little harder. Both provide the user with a wide variety of presser feet for different applications, and an amazing set of stitch patterns they can perform automatically.

Elna 8600 Xplore

It only takes one project using an Elna 8600 Xplore Sewing Machine to be convinced. Built for precision and productivity, the Elna Xplore is designed specifically with embroidery in mind, the machine can handle nearly any project you have in mind. And you’ll love the patented one-step needle threader that allows you to hand over some or all of the threading procedure directly to the machine. Find out how powerful computerized sewing machines can be by manipulating some standard stitch patterns, including elongating and flipping them over.

Elna 7200 Pro

Meanwhile, an Elna 7200 Pro Computerized Sewing machine is geared more towards quilting, but is completely at home with any task, heavy or light. And you’ll be amazed by the number of stitches available, utility, quilting, satin stitches, even buttonholing. There are more than 120 different stitches included. For a dependable sewing powerhouse, this is the ideal machine, even able to handle embroidery on thick fabrics, allowing easy customization of family heirlooms and quilts.

Both machines are built for hard work and precision sewing, While the Elna 8600 Xplore Sewing Machine is more pat for embroidery and household use, while the Elna 7200 Pro provides the beauty of easy quilting with the precision of embroidery. Both are built solidly, and perform well in personal to light industrial applications. The built-in computer makes stitches that you thought were beyond your skills will be as easy as pressing a few buttons, and letting the Elna 7200 Pro teach you how it’s done.

The bad side is that an Elna Sewing Machine is not available in a cheap version. You’ll be sewing like professional, using stitches you had never thought you could do, and more. But you’ll expect to pay the price of those same professionals to get the right quality of machine. Even novice users report that an Elna 8600 Xplore sewing machine is very easy to understand, allowing them to spend more time sewing, and less learning about the many built-in features.

Today every updated kitchen has a dishwasher, or should have a dishwasher. I know people who spent a fortune on cabinets, flooring and fancy granite counter top when they updated their kitchen. Unfortunately, they didn’t install a dishwasher. A big no-no in today’s tough real estate market. Even though it’s just my husband and I in our home now we still use our dishwasher, about once every 3-4 days. I rinse the dishes well before I put them in the dishwasher since they’ll be sitting for a few days before washing. I always use the heated dry cycle, unless I’m washing my good china, in which case I don’t.

When my husband and I needed to buy a new dishwasher we wanted to buy one that is well regarded by Consumer Reports. We wanted to make sure it had a good warranty, and not too many fancy bells and whistles we’ll never use. We’ve read that a lot of homeowners make the mistake of going hog wild choosing appliances with lots of features they’ll actually never use. These upgrades can cost hundreds, if not thousands of dollars and end up being a total waste of money.

While checking out dishwasher brands we found out that most are made by just two or three companies. Whirlpool manufacturers their own brand of dishwashers as well as dishwashers for Kenmore, Roper and KitchenAid. Maytag manufacturers their own brand as well as Amana, Admiral and Jenn-Air. GE manufacturers their own brand as well as Hotpoint.

One thing that was definitely important to us when choosing a dishwasher was the noise level. As our dishwasher got older it got louder. We learned that most dishwasher noise levels are about 48 dB. We read that AEG and Miele dishwashers are the quietest at between 42 and 43 dB.

We plan to live in our home for at least five more years and this fact does weigh on our dishwasher choice. We want to make sure we have an energy efficient dishwasher but want to be able to recoup our money. Another mistake homeowners make is buying the most expensive energy saving product. Sometimes this is not an efficient use of money. If you buy a $1200 dishwasher you may only be saving $20-$50 a year on water and energy usage. You would have to stay in your home at least 10 years to realize the savings over the $700 model. Something else to consider when buying a dishwasher.

It’s a known fact that when replacing kitchen appliances homeowners tend to stick with the brand already in their home if they’re happy with it overall. This is a good move to make. Most potential home buyers like the idea of one brand of appliances in a kitchen.

So you have finally decided it’s time to change your refrigerator and want a new one. But buying a refrigerator can be a daunting task. There are many models out there in the marketplace and besides, how do you know what’s the best fit for you?

There are many things you should be looking at when getting a new model. Most refrigerators will last for many years without much hassle, but make sure to choose a model that a great warrant along with a good track record. Also make sure that your model is energy efficient as well as easy to maintain and keep clean. Here are some refrigerator basics to help you make the right choice.

Get the basics right

• Measure things like the height, depth and width of the space where you plan to keep you new refrigerator. This is a good starting point to narrow down your choices.

• If you really want the refrigerator which has the ice and water dispenser, know that you will need access to a water line from behind the refrigerator.

• Always make sure that you have enough room behind the refrigerator for ventilation. This is essential for efficient functioning.

• If your space is limited, make sure that you measure the clearance, to know how much space you need to open the refrigerator door to remove the shelves etc

Know what you need

Of all the major household appliances, refrigerators consume the most amount of energy as they are always switched on. Thus capacity is the most important consideration while picking a new refrigerator. As a rule of thumb, for a normal household of two people, you generally need about 10 to 12 cubic feet of food storage and you should add an extra cubic foot for each additional person. Buying the right size is important as an unfilled refrigerator, tends to consume more energy and one that is too small would require too much rearranging on your part. Also, it is important to remember that features such as bottom freezer or ice dispensers use up storable freezer space.

Keep Efficiency up

Refrigerators typically consume about 10 to 12 percent of the total power that an average household consumes over a period of one year. Many of the older models such as ones built before 1999 do not meet the current Energy power usage guidelines and thus they can be considered as inefficient. Models today have better compressors and motors and thus this prevents the unnecessary freezing of food keeping it fresher and healthier. Also better insulated doors make sure that the cold air does not escapes thus requiring lesser cooling. ENERGY STAR® models are built to be extremely efficient and consume considerably less amount of energy than previous models almost 30% less. Energy efficient models of today not only save you money but are also an environmentally more conscious decision.

Think about what you really need

Top freezers have the most usable storage space. On an average top freezer or bottom freezer models are not only cheaper but also more efficient than side by side models. Also, the base models are the ones that require the least amount of maintenance. The more features you add onto your refrigerator, the more energy it consumes also the likelihood of needing repairs goes up. Particularly, refrigerators with ice makers, require more repairs than any other models.

Under counter freezers are a no-no

Under counter refrigerator drawers can be installed below kitchen counters or island counters in your kitchen. They are useful for storing drinks and other snacks which require to be kept at a lower temperature. However, these models are pricey and they offer very little storage space as they are small. So while these models cost little to run, they are inefficient in terms of usage.

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Great old appliances

Readers tell us about ancient stoves, washer and toasters that still work

Illustration by Christoph Hitz

Talk about growing old gracefully: Sue Hughes’ 1930 refrigerator still keeps her ice frozen and her cold cuts cold. When we recently asked readers to tell us about old appliances that still get the job done, we received almost 400 love stories like Hughes’. We heard, for example, about Frank Wunderlich and his 1950 freezer (“The people who made this product really knew what they were doing”), Regina Doering and her 1955 hand mixer (“It has never failed me”), and Brent Ferrici and his pink 1958 wall oven (“The best I’ve ever used, however hideous it may be”).

Why do people who could afford a new device keep the old? Some readers gave a sentimental reason, but most were practical, like Florence Pick, owner of a 1960 dishwasher. “It works,” she told us. “Why do I need a new one?”