Coffee Break: The Fonteyn Jane Flat

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1. Another window question – I’m seeing a lot of critiques of vinyl windows, that they look cheap and have poor durability. Can anyone who either installed new vinyl windows or decided against it weigh in? It’s hard to tell what’s an upselling tactic vs. genuine user feedback. We need to be mindful of budget, but I wonder if maybe doing something like a nicer material with single-hung windows might be the better way to reduce costs.

   1. The craftsman blog is a great resource that breaks down the math and aesthetics. I had my windows restored. It was about the same cost as getting them replaced and they look a bajillion times better. Window experts are hard to find though because they are typically older dudes without an internet presence, I found mine from a sticker on a church window. Don’t believe ‘the trades people don’t exist’ thats a lie they do exist, you just can’t find them on Google.

      1. You can only repair very old single-paned wood windows. If the seal on a double-paned wood window has failed and let in moisture, the window must be replaced.

   2. I like being able to open windows from the top, depending on airflow and window location. I doubt it would be a big savings either. Wood windows are beautiful and functional, but it’s an extra cost to paint them that’s usually not included in the quote. I’m sure there are high quality vinyl windows and low quality wood windows – it’s hard to know which are which on your own, so use a contractor you trust. I know everyone in the morning thread said you don’t need a GC, but without my GC, I wouldn’t have known what to choose, and I wouldn’t have known that a few windows needed adjustments from the Andersen specialist he worked with. Honestly I think he saved me money because ordering direct from a window company would have caused expensive mistakes.

   3. By ‘single hung’ do you mean casement windows? The functionality of those is so much worse than double-hung IMHO. We use the top-down ability of double-hung all the time in nice weather as they’re positioned to whisk the hot rising air straight outside.

      1. ugh nm, single hung = looks like double hung but you can only move the bottom pane. My comment stands, though.

   4. Honestly, we’re replacing old aluminum windows with vinyl windows (gliding- so right to left vs. up to down) and sliding doors and they look great and are less susceptible to warping in changing climates.
      One note is that the cheapest line from any manufacturer is the least customizable- if you care a great deal about hardware/color/customization, you’ll end up with the more expensive options, but the build quality varies across lines less than you’d think.

      1. PS: renewal by andersen is a ripoff- they use subcontractors to do installs. Home depot also sells the same andersen windows and also uses subcontractors to do installs for 1/4 the price.

   5. Unless you have a lot of money to burn and want a very particular aesthetic, vinyl is the way to go. I’ve done them in 2 houses. The first are 12 years old and still in perfect shape. The ones I did 4 years ago are a step up cosmetically (various frame colors had become available). Both were installed professionally and quickly. Both made a huge difference to the amount of ambient outside noise coming in. I don’t have any drafts. They were 1/5 the price of wood-framed windows.
      My best friend installed her vinyl windows in the late 90s and when they sold their house last year one had fogged between the panes and was replaced.
      I would install them again in a second.

   6. We have one vinyl window from Window World that was installed about 8 years ago. It is a picture window (does not open) and the glass is not in the same plane as the original glass. It actually sticks out towards the exterior of the house by a few inches. When it was installed I was shocked because the salesman did not explain that it would end up this way, and when I complained the company did nothing. The whole thing is cheap, flimsy-looking, and shiny. Now it looks as if the seal between the panes is cracking. I would not expect it to last more than another couple of years.

      We are about to replace all the windows in our house and I’m looking into composite or fiberglass.

   7. We have wood windows and there is no way I’d bother to restore them. Some of the frames and trim are rotten, all the hardware and mechanisms are a mess so the windows are impossible to open, and the sashes are warped. There’s just nothing to salvage.

   8. I feel like SDL vs actual divided light vs simulated but with the dividers (mullions?) on the outside matters at least visually. i really hate the windows with fake interior dividers. Easier to clean but looks cheap from every single angle. It’s a something you can’t unsee once you clock it.

   9. I think vinyl windows are a better choice unless you’re very wealthy, or maybe if you have very high quality antique windows to restore (which most people don’t).

2. Quick vent- a travel agent I know posted a Reel about tips she learned on an extended family Europe trip this summer. Her ensuing advice is (1) book private water excursions rather than shared because somehow the generic river cruise was so horrible??, (2) book suites instead of regular rooms, (3) fly business class with lie-flat seats, (4) book a private t-sfer service from airport or train station to hotel (like, not an Uber or taxi, a limo type company), (5) book hotels an extra night to guarantee early checkin, and (6) pay for VIP service at the airport.

   Uh, yes, dear, we all know that an unlimited budget makes everything easier. How about some more creative tips next time?!? (I will admit to having done #5 myself, in all fairness.)

   1. This would irk me too, and I’m a person with a pretty hefty travel budget (i.e. we typically fly business if we can get a decent price and that comes with better airport service). It sounds to me like this person is just going to try to upsell me!

      This kind of marketing is part of the reason we generally don’t use travel agents. While it would save us time, we like to look for deals and spend up on only the things that matter to us. The couple of times I met with a travel agent to discuss outsourcing, I wasn’t presented with any information that I hadn’t found by googling.

   2. LOL I do not know this woman, but I was somehow fed this reel on my Insta yesterday too. I admit that I am an upscale traveler overall, but I was so put off by that post as well. Super weird!

   3. Influencers are selling an aspirational lifestyle, not their advice, and anyone with a big following on IG is primarily making their living as an influencer, not a travel agent/advisor.

      I actually work as a travel advisor and do many of these things myself, but would never frame this as valuable “advice” because, duh, money makes everything easier. Also I’ve had really bad experiences with some of the private t-sfer companies in Europe. I generally recommend Uber except for elderly clients who aren’t comfortable using the phone app.

      1. OP of the thread — this particular one isn’t an influencer in the traditional sense, like she’s not affiliate linking anything. Just a wealthy woman who got into travel advising as a second career as her kids got older.

         To be fair it is advertised as a luxury travel agency… but this in particular felt more like “let me show off how much I spend on travel” humblebrag with pics of her kids in their business class seats, as opposed to advice that is actually useful to her well-traveled and generally well-heeled audience / making it feel like her services are worth a fee!

         1. You’d be surprised by how much you can make on IG without links, especially if you count hosted travel. All the big travel influencers get comped flights and hotel stays. They’re supposed to disclose it, but not all do.

            In fairness to this person, it’s hard to give general “how to travel” advice that isn’t already out there, so that isn’t how TAs typically add value. But if she was framing this as ground-breaking advice, I agree with you that it’s pretty silly.

   4. Eh so what. I do all those things and had to figure it out. She’s clearly not aiming for your demographic.

      1. We do the other things suggested some of the time, so I’m familiar with the value of indulgence, and am in her demographic, generally speaking. It just felt like Captain Obvious Spend Money And Be More Comfortable advice, not something enticing me to pay for more.

         1. Agreed – reads very Captain Obvious to me too.

            1. I travel on the cheap, so I had never thought about half of this. But I’m probably not the intended audience either!

         2. You had to learn it somewhere though initially.

   5. The only one that I think is a genuine ‘hack’ (if you can afford it) is to book at least 1 room the night before your arrival to guarantee a hot shower and a bed to nap in when you get in early. It wasn’t something my family could afford and I was shocked when my first big consulting firm treated it as something that everyone should/could do. That’s a bigger value add to me than traveling in business for a flight under 8 hours and considerably cheaper!
      I also agree with using black car services (Addison Lee) or directly through the hotel for foreign travel on arrival/departure days for an added level of security. I’ve traveled for 20+ years now and professional black car drivers are just on another level vs. an uber driver. It is a cost, but that’s one I am willing to pay on arrival day in a strange country, jet lagged, with kids. Even my penny pinching husband agreed that was 100% worth it when we’ve gone international with kids.

   6. Annoying. Although the group vs private tour thing could be useful. Sometimes the cost isn’t that much different, or the excursion sounds more fun to be in a group (but isn’t), or sometimes there is a huge cost difference and it’s not worth it.

      I went on a small group hiking tour that made me never want to hike in a group again. But I’ve been on other group tours that were really fun, I was glad to get to socialize, and I think it would’ve been kind of boring to do just me and DH.

      1. We do a mix of both when we travel (DINKs). We like small groups for things like food tours, and small groups for day trips. For instance, we often do small groups for wine tours, and have a trip to Rome (our first) later this year where we booked a small group tour of the Colosseum. But splurged on a private Vatican tour because of the sheer amount of information (and how crowded we know it will be – keeping track of a group of 12 can be hard in an environment like that!).

3. Re: MP compensation. At our firm MP makes 25K. It in no way compensates for the # of hours that the MP spends on firm business. The rest of the mgmt committee is not compensated.

   1. Thanks! This is much closer to my firm.

4. What hiking boots are like Hokas in terms of cushiness? I need something like that for when I run the weed wacker and am in heavy brush, etc. Like for standing more than actual hiking. Feet are not having it in my actual hiking boots.

   1. Hoka makes a couple of mid- or high-top hiking shoes; I suspect they’re what you’re looking for.

   2. For me, the Lowa Renegade hiking boots are the most comfortable for everything, including days when I’m standing on concrete.

   3. Blundstones with Vibram soles feel like sneakers to me.

   4. New Balance hierro boots are insane. I’ve never tried on a hiking boot more comfortable, plus they are gortex with vibram outsoles.

5. I bought some tall boots on sale this spring. They take up so much room in the closet I. Their boxes. How do you store yours when they are out of season and in between wears when they are in-season?

   1. I have 3 pairs. They live in a large Rubbermaid container. I stuff the boots with tissue paper and also layer tissue in between the boots. Sturdiest pair goes at the bottom. Since it’s only 3 pairs it’s not a big deal to have them standing up in the closet when in use… ymmv if you have a lot.

      1. +1, and if you get underbed Rubbermaid totes you get them out of sight (though you could just put the boxes under the bed if you go this route)

   2. My tall boots live under my bed so I can store them flat with all the paper in to keep their shape.

   3. I have a larger closet, but I put boot stands in mine and stand them up under the hanging items in my closet.

6. inspired by the travel agent thread – what useless advice do you hear the most often?
   – sleep when the baby sleeps
   – follow your passion
   – get all your clothes tailored

   1. -avoid credit cards, as if using them is synonymous with irresponsible spending / racking up debt

   2. “Just don’t worry about it.”

      1. Oh and its close relative, “Stop worrying about it [infertility/finding a job] and then it will happen.”

   3. In my book, getting clothes tailored is not at all useless. It’s the secret to looking polished and stylish. I have most of my pants and skirts hemmed and most structured workwear altered because I am not built like the curvy, short-waisted, perfectly symmetrical dress form all the clothing manufacturers seem to use. Back in the days of pencil skirts I had all of mine tapered at the bottom and hemmed to the perfect length to de-frumpify them.

      1. +1, tailoring your clothes is usually money well-spent

         1. I felt this way when I had a good tailor. A bad tailor is definitely worse than leaving well enough alone!

      2. sure but it requires time and money to get your clothes tailored so it’s like the travel agent advice.

      3. Do your weights not fluctuate over like a 7 pound range during the course of a standard menstrual cycle? I just always wonder about these women who get things tailored and apparently never have bloating to contend with?

         1. I don’t tailor the waist to a tight place, it’s more about the length of pants, skirts and dresses and shaping things.

      4. +1 million, tailoring is the secret to polish

   4. Just use AI.

      1. God, so true.

   5. “Make sure to sleep well”

      1. This one makes me so upset as a lifelong bad sleeper. If only my body would actually stay asleep!

         1. I finally got a diagnosis and a treatment that fixed this, and it’s been so worth it. You don’t have what I have; it’s way too rare. But it could be worth getting checked out again in case they know more than they used to. My issue was genetic so that explained why it was lifelong!

      2. Good sleep is SOoOo important!! (Yeah, I know. I, too, would like more of it.)

   6. the only constant is change (mantra of a dysfunctional workplace)

      1. This might correlate to a bad workplace, but it’s true in non-work life. Adaptability is key: your health changes, your neighborhood changes, your kids’ needs change, your elderly parents age, etc.

   7. These might be controversial, but I think there are far more exceptions than people admit for these:

      – Eat a big breakfast / breakfast is the most important meal of the day
      – Arrive at the airport at least two hours before your flight
      – Running would make me happy if I gave it one more try
      – Hire a cleaning lady

      1. “Just hire a cleaner” is super annoying. First, it would cost me something like $800 month to have someone clean my small house weekly on the books. That is not chump change unless you work in Biglaw or finance or Silicon Valley. Second, no cleaning service I have ever had in for a one-time clean has done a good job.

   8. “It is what it is.” Things can change! People can decide not to take crap anymore.

   9. “Just put your phone in grayscale and it won’t be addictive.” Bestie, if your “addiction” is broken by grayscale, you weren’t all that addicted. You just had a habit.

7. Looking for recommendations for a blouse to wear with navy pants to an interview. Details: interview is in NYC with a capital market company for a new grad role in the computer science field. The interviewer specifically said “we are a casual office, so no need to dress formally.” Budget is up to $200, but need it by Sunday. Pants are from Aritzia’s suiting collection. I would love specific suggestions!

   1. This seems like go to a real store territory and just try tops on until you find something that fits you nicely off the rack, is in a color that flatters you and goes with the trousers, doesn’t gape weirdly, and is in your price range.

      1. I agree that an in-person shopping trip is a good idea since you don’t have time for the order/return/re-order cycle. You need to try on a bunch of stuff so you can find the right color and fit.

         If you’re new to shopping for work clothes like this and don’t know where to start, go to the women’s department of your local department store, tell one of the sales assistants what you’re looking for, and that person can point you to some of the specific clothing lines likely to carry what you’re looking for. Best if you wear the trousers on the shopping trip, so you can tell right away if you like the top with the trousers.

         If you’re also want looking for specific non-department stores to go to, look at the Sales of Note list that’s in every blog post here and find out if any of those stores are in your city. (Apologies if this info is too basic and you already know all this stuff.)

   2. Maybe something like this?
      https://www.anntaylor.com/clothing/tops-and-blouses/cata000010/twist-front-top/841082.html?dwvar_841082_color=9192

      1. Nice pick.

      2. For casual and comp sci, I might look for a bit more personality, but there’s no interview where this top wouldn’t be fine.

   3. Thanks, everyone. This is for my daughter. She is contemplating wearing a sleeveless turtleneck and my Gen X self (who has worked in tech for 20 years) had the immediate reaction that you can’t do sleeveless for an interview. I know there are people here closer to her age than mine, so I knew you would have some good tips!

      1. I agree. No sleeveless for an interview for first job.

8. “Make sure to sleep well”

9. has anyone seen death becomes her (the… musical?) haven’t seen the movie in forever but feel like i might like this one.

   1. Yes. Many people in the audience were laughing uproariously, but my family and I all thought it was incredibly slapsticky and dumb. Much like Titanique, the musical. I don’t think we’re particularly snooty or humorless, but the humor really fell flat to us.

      1. Counterpoint: I liked it a lot more than I expected to. Yes, it’s dumb and slapsticky but in a fun way.

   2. I liked it but fyi that it’s launching a national tour very soon so personally I wouldn’t prioritize it if I were heading to NYC for a trip.
      (I know opinions on this differ, but I see a lot of theatre on both Broadway and tour and I’ve found first national tour casts to be just about as good as Broadway casts, especially once the original Broadway cast has been replaced, as is the case with DBH.)

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