Last night on ABC Extreme Home Makeover, they gave one of the families a swimming pool, a hot tub, and… misting cactuses (or is that cacti?). It was the first I had heard of such things, but the fog looked like a neat effect. The company that makes them, Cool Zone USA, says the purpose of the misting cactus is to cool down residential yards and homes in hot climates. Here’s a misting cactus in its natural milieu.
If you’re looking to update the look in your living areas with some new lighting, Babette Holland Design creates “accessories for the modern lifestyle.” The unique bases on their lamps make a statement without hitting you over the head with it. More at Spun Metal Lamps-Babette Holland Design.
Though washers with lids that open from the top are most common, today stackable washers and dryers or front-load washers and dryers are becoming more popular since they take up less room and can be built into cabinetry or under counters. Bosch Appliances is just one of many manufacturers making these machines. Epinions’ What You Should Know About Front Load Washing Machines is a good resource and worth reading before you buy.
If you’ve ever considered adding a pond to your backyard, the Certified Aquascape Contrator site may be a good place to start. They offer a wealth of information on everything from water garden shapes and options, pond biology, how to build ponds and water gardens, how to create waterfalls, and how to handle maintenance. If you’re not ready to dig up the backyard, you might be interested in the Half-Barrel Pond page, an informative site about building small but thriving ponds in regular barrels that have been cut in half. The pictures on the page show an interesting array of plant life that the owner has cultivated in his half-barrel ponds.
If you like houses with views of the water, it’s hard to beat living on the water in a houseboat. Buying a houseboat is a little different (ok, a lot different) than buying a house, though. Some of the things you have to consider are mooring fees, insurance, national titles and winterization. If you’re buying a used houseboat, you’ll need to have a marine survey done before you can secure a loan.
Thinking of remodeling? Looking for some bathroom design pictures to help your brainstorming sessions? Here’s a few pictures I found around the net.
A Handsome Kohler Bathroom
Bathroom Dominated by Wood with Gold Accents
Carpet, Windows, and a Large Bath Tub
Bright Bathroom with Marble Floor
A Modern Miami Bathroom
If you’re looking for more, I suggest picking up some of those remodeling magazines at the book store. They have great glossy pictures that you can cut out and dump on your architect’s desk.
Fireplaces provide nice ambiance. As do waterfalls. I’ve never seen them two combined, until now. The
Max Blank Niagara Free Standing Wood Burning Stove with Waterfall has a wood-burning fireplace on the bottom and a waterfall gliding down the stainless steel top. The waterfall can be activated by remote. The sleek looking unit comes with a hefty price tag of $15,000. Time to start scrounging in the couch cushions…
What, your oven isn’t hooked up to your home network? Imagine this: You’re stuck in traffic and wishing dinner would be ready for you when you arrive home. Just whip out your cellphone and text message something like…
Dear Oven. Please start cooking the pork chops at 375 for 30 minutes. Be there soon.
Home automation is everywhere these days, including the kitchen.
Thinking of remodeling? To help ensure things get off the right foot from the start, you might want to read this article from MSN Money: 4 steps to hiring the right contractor. The Real Estate Journal also offers a worthwhile read on when you should hire an architect and when you just need a contractor.
For the last couple years, people have been saying goodbye suburbia, hello downtown. Reasons range from empty nesters downsizing to smaller but more luxurious homes to young professionals with no children who enjoy the city scene with its museums, restaurants, sporting events, and theaters. What does this mean for the housing market? Urban lofts and condominiums are highly desired.
