French crock stores butter at room temperature

Dear Martha: 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?

Answer: 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.

Dear Martha: Is it possible to change the color of my favorite leather sofa?

Answer: 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.

Dear Martha: What's your favorite material for kitchen countertops?

Answer: 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.