« January 2005 | Main | March 2005 »
February 28, 2005
Humidifiers of the Future
Humidifiers add humidity to a home's interior which can be useful in a dry climate, but the noisy hum of the machines can be a turn off. The Humidifall combines a humidifier with a piece of art and a soft rippling waterfall that can add not only a cool new look to your home but a pleasant background sound that you won't mind.
Humidifall
February 27, 2005
Bath & Shower Filters
Filters in pitchers or hooked up to the kitchen faucet to purify drinking water have been around for years, but shower filters are relatively new. The reasoning behind them is that chlorine in your water can be unhealthy for your skin (which is your biggest "mouth"). I'm glad I didn't know about those studies during my years on swim team... These filters are meant to promote healthy skin and help keep you free of annoying itching or dry skin that can be caused by the chemicals or minerals in your bathing water.
Today, you can get both shower filters that get hooked up directly above the showerhead or bathtub filters that float around in the tub.
Above-Ground Pools vs. In-Ground Swimming Pools
Above ground swimming pools have long been viewed as the distant second choice for backyard swimming pools. According to an article on the benefits of above ground pools, that view may be changing. Today's above ground pools aren't the clunky metal (or worse--blow-up) beasts of old. They come in a variety of sizes and materials, and can be anything from large recreational pools to dedicated lap pools. While they might not increase the value of your house the way an in ground pool can (also read: Does a Swimming Pool Increase Your Property Value?), they can go with you if you decide to move.
February 25, 2005
Eco-Friendly Furniture
Looking for environmentally conscious furniture? Or furniture makers that use recyled materials or perhaps contribute some of their earnings to eco-friendly causes? Treehugger, a blog that follows modern yet ecologically responsible living, has entries on a number of furniture makers that are doing their part to help the Earth. Visit this post on Re-Modern, a furniture designer "with integrity" or check out these bucket pendant lamps, made out of--you guessed it--recylced bucket liners. Also in the light category are these table lamps made from recycled jars. The whole site is a great resource and worth browsing when you have the time.
February 22, 2005
Barcode Reading Refrigerators
We've mentioned barcode reading microwaves, but what about refrigerators with barcode reading technology? Korea's LG Electronics offers a refrigerator with a computer brain and a barcode scanner that tracks the status of your groceries. It is Internet ready and can send you an email when you're out of eggs. LG Electronics also offers a refrigerator with a built-in LCD TV for watching your favorite shows (or maybe just keeping your kids entertained) while you're fixing dinner. According to an article at CNN.com, these smart refrigerators may not be ready for the mainstream.
Laser Lawn Mowers
Your traditional lawn mower cuts grass with a blade. The Wolf-Garten Zero Laser Mower cuts grass with a laser, then mulches the grass into small particles that are dropped back onto the lawn. The Wolf-Garten is a quiet system since there's no noisy motor rotating blades. The technology is still fairly new (read: expensive), but it will be interesting to watch.
Articles on the Zero Laser Mower: WOLF-Garten striving to ready laser mower, Wolf-Garten: Zero Laser Mower, and You've never seen a lawn mower like this one!
February 21, 2005
Rolling Library Ladders
Rolling library ladders seem to be a staple of Hollywood home libraries/studies, but they can be practical for everyday homeowners, too. Alaco offers them not only for high shelves in libraries but also for kitchens, lofts, game rooms, wine cellars, and more. Their website has an estimate form where you can specify the dimensions of the ladder you need.
Rolling ladder features and options.
Custom Designed Furniture
Customization of furniture is becoming more popular these days. With printing technology, vendors can offer wallpaper, rugs, and kitchen backsplashes with pictures of the kids or whatever you desire on them, but furniture is being customized, too. While custom designed pieces may still be expensive when commissioned, now more homeowners are realizing they can do much of the work themselves. "Meet the hottest new interior designer: the American homeowner. Spurred by the Internet's growing ranks of décor vendors and weary of canned looks pushed by big retailers, would-be decorators are commissioning their own curtain fabrics, designing their own bathroom tiles -- even ordering rugs emblazoned with images of the family dog."
From Customization Movement Hits Home Furnishings
February 20, 2005
Remodeling the Bathroom, Cost Estimates
Along with kitchens, bathrooms are one of the most popular remodeling projects homeowners choose. If you're thinking of tweaking (or completely overhauling) your bathroom, you might be wondering what kind of cost you're looking at. Here's a summary of costs, based on projects, according to Taunton's New Bathroom Idea Book.
- Cost up to $1,000 = Mostly cosmetic stuff. New paint and a new toilet or sink or new flooring.
- Between $1,000 and $2,500 = Install a new toilet and sink or replace the tub or shower, but you'll probably have to keep the same layout.
- Cost between $2,500 and $7,500 = Minor floor plan changes, new floors, fixtures, finish materials.
- $7,500 to $12,000 = You can do a fairly complete rehab with changes to the floor plan and add a new window or skylight.
- $12,000 to $20,000 = If you're using premium materials or adding luxury items (jetted tub, etc), bathroom remodels can jump into this price range. This usually covers things like enlarging the bathroom or converting a closet as well.
Digital Art Meets TV
Television, long considered by many the antithesis of art, is becoming a new way of displaying art in your home. Digital artists are creating original pieces for display when there's nothing on TV. You can get software art (the art is actually computer code that controls sounds and images on the television), collaborative Internet-based pieces (collectors from around the world can view and modify the artwork), or DVD art (video art that plays off a DVD).
http://www.softwareartspace.com/ -- An art gallery for buying digital art.
http://www.markamerika.com/ -- An artist's site with DVD videos and Internet-based artwork.
http://www.bitforms.com/ -- Software and Internet-based pieces that allow user modification.
Not interested in turning your TV into an art frame? Look for digital art coming to your cell phone, too.
February 18, 2005
Contemporary Fireplaces
Everyone loves the warmth and ambiance of a fire now and then, but traditional hearths don't always fit in with a modern look. Sleek, contemporary stoves and fireplaces, first popular in Europe, are making their way to the US. The Rais Pina has a firebox "equipped with the latest non-catalytic burn technology that assures clean, reliable, and responsible burning," and it looks cool, too. The simple but elegant base allows the firebox to be rotated, so you can admire the flames from any part of the room.
Rais Stoves
Custom Built Homes, Hiring a Builder
People often decide to go with custom built homes when they are looking for a vacation home or are fortunate enough to be able to design their dream home. Unlike with production built homes, you can get exactly what you want and nothing you don't want. It's likely the largest project you'll ever undertake though, and hiring a builder can be tricky. Realty Times offers a helpful article called Online Tools Help With Builder Selection that's a good place to start if you are thinking of building a custom home. Mortgage calculators is also a helpful place to visit while you're in the planning stage, as it can help you figure out how much of a payment you'd be looking at. Most contractors will tell you to plan for an end cost of at least 10-20% more than your estimate with a custom built home. Also remember, you need to figure in the cost of the land as well as the materials and labor.
February 17, 2005
Salt Lamps
We've looked at lamps made out of stone, but how about lamps made out of salt? Chi Evolution makes both lamps and candles using Himalayan crystallized salt aged over 250 million years.
ChiEvolution
Rubber Roofing Information
Rubber roofing is gradually gaining acceptance as an alternative to more traditional roofing materials. Slate roofing, which has long been a sign of quality and style, is being imitated by surprisingly accurate-looking renditions done with recycled rubber materials. These artificial slate roofs are half the weight of their stone counterparts, less expensive, and tremendously resistant to the elements. They're environmentally friendly as well, recycling land fill cloggers like tires and diapers.
More information at: EcoStar Recycled Rubber Roofing.
February 15, 2005
Residential Steam Showers
Steam showers in the home are becoming more popular both because they feel good, and many believe steam has health benefits such as promoting blood flow which can help muscles recover after workouts or injuries. Creating a residential steam shower involves a bit of renovation since you'll need to install a steam generator, such as the
Thermasol SteamShower Series Steam Bath Generator
The shower also needs to be built so it can be completely enclosed to keep the steam in. You can add benches and other amenities for comfort.
Shower Tower
A shower tower is a vertical series of jetted spray heads designed to emulate the massaging power of a jetted bathtub. No need to wait for the tub to fill. Most shower towers recycle the water so it's not wasted, and many come with separate heaters built into the pumps to keep the water warm throughout your shower. The Kohler BodySpa Shower Tower is one example; it comes with ten jets and a waterfall feature.
Refrigerators with Glass Doors
Refrigerators with glass doors are part of the latest trend in kitchen appliances. Models such as the Sub-Zero 650G Glass Door Refrigerator combine stainless steel with the ability to see what's inside without opening the door. What purpose does the glass door serve, you wonder? Well, aside from being able to show off your exotic food collection (or mold collection as the case may be for some of us), you can save energy because you can stand there and look for what you need before you actually open the door. The Sub-Zero 650G, for instance, is energy-star rated, despite the glass.
February 13, 2005
Heated Toilet Seats
Towels aren't the only thing staying warm in the bathroom this winter. Heated toilet seats heat the seats to 25F above room temperature and feature uniform heat distribution throughout. Heated seats cost about $100 and are fairly simple to install, taking only a few minutes.
More warming ideas at Ten Products to Keep Your Home Warm This Winter
Towel Warming Drawers
We've mentioned towel warming racks, but towel warming drawers are also becoming popular. Similar to the warming drawers being used in new kitchens, these ones are built to keep your bathroom towels, slippers, and robes cozy and warm. Towel warmers are put out by manufacturers like Kenmore and cost around $600. The main advantage these drawers have over towel warming racks is that they get the towel warm all the way through.
Jacuzzi + TV
Let's face it. It was only a matter of time before someone put a television in the bathtub. The Jacuzzi La Scale whirlpool jetted tub comes with TV, DVD player, stereo, and surround sound. Floating remote included. The big round tub seats two. Looks like the bathroom may be the next living room.
Jacuzzi Bathtub with TV
February 11, 2005
Return on Home Improvement Projects
If your main purpose in starting a home improvement project is to increase the value of your house, you may want to read MSN Money's Remodeling risks often outweigh returns which includes a chart showing what projects will give you a solid return on your investment and what projects probably won't. The long and short of it is that for most things, it's probably better to renovate based on the needs and desires of your family rather than some intangible bottom line.
Tin Ceilings
Tin ceilings, in the form of stamped-metal ceiling tiles, were originally popular at the turn of the 20th Century and are seeing a resurgence today. They go particularly well in kitchens and bathrooms; the sleek, metallic finish of the tiles complements the numerous polished surfaces in such rooms. Tin ceiling tiles come in many styles and are commonly available in 2x2 or 2x4 foot pieces from specialty manufacturers.
Source: Decorating with Architectural Details
February 10, 2005
Home Improvement Contracts Top List of Consumer Complaints
Yahoo! News recently posted a story listing the top consumer complaints in 2003 and 2004 and home improvement contractors topped the list. The reasons given? "(M)ainly bad workmanship and not living up to contracts."
Considering the cost of home renovations, this is definitely an area where you want to protect yourself. Don't pick a contractor out of the phone book. Instead, ask friends and family in the area for recommendations based on people they've worked with. At the very least, demand references from anyone you are considering hiring. Find out what past clients have said.
Read story: Top 10 consumer complaints are...
Wine Rack or Wine... Tube?
Let's face it, if you're a true wine enthusiast, and you own your own home, you've probably built a wine cellar or at least installed a wine refrigerator, but if you haven't reached that point yet (give it time), you may be considering a wine rack. If space is at a premium, you might be interested in a wine tube. Sounds weird, but as they say, sometimes less is more. The Kim Almsig wine tube featured below holds 12 bottles and allows you to see all the labels without pulling each individual bottle out of a rack. Wall mounting makes access easy while the slim profile keeps your prized bottles from getting in the way.
If you want something a little more sophisticaed, The Wine Enthusiast sells a number of Wine racks and cooling systems.
February 09, 2005
Quartz Countertop Kills Germs
The Silestone Quartz Countertop with built-in Microban (an antimicrobial) is due out this spring. The countertop is manufactured by Texas's Cosentino, a Spanish company that builds 75% of the US's engineered-quartz countertops. The Silestone combines mined quartz crystals with polymers and a "secret blend" of microbe-fighting chemicals put out by Microban International. Microban is known for licenscing its germ-killing technology to 140 odd manufacturers of home products such as air filters and bathroom grout.
The Microban quartz countertop is slated to sell for $40 to $95 per square foot and will be available at more than 3,500 retail stores across the US.
For more information, read Boston.com New's Do I really need my countertop to kill germs? for one writer's opinion on the necessity of the product or simply get the quick stats from Time blurb Antimicrobial Countertops.
Hanging Fabric Panels
Hanging fabric panels (also called slats) can spruce up an otherwise blah wall. Inhabit Living offers slats in numerous colors and designs that can add interest to your wall. They can also be hung from the ceiling as a way to create room dividers in large spaces.
Hanging Fabric Panels
Outdoor Living
Remember when fixing up the backyard just meant some landscaping or perhaps adding a pool? Outdoor living (which includes everything from building soothing water gardens to installing entire outdoor kitchens for entertaining) is becoming more and more popular. The backyard is the new living room, at least in warm months. Additions like outdoor fireplaces can tack on a couple more months of usuability at the beginning and ending of those warm months as well. An article in the Arizona Central takes a look at outdoor trends in Arizona, noting that "proper landscaping can increase your home's value by 25 percent or more, and if it will also add value to your lifestyle, then you've got a winning combination."
More at Outdoor living alters ground rules
February 08, 2005
What the Wealthy Want in 2005
What are the wealthy considering luxurious in 2005? In the UK Times Online article What Rich Tenants Want, the current trendy tastes are described: "Forget heavy panelling and even heavier carpets. The look now demanded by top City tenants... is walls gently washed in sophisticated pastels, dark wooden floors and lacquered furniture... quite antiquey and faintly oriental; there are old-fashioned armchairs and a wooden dining table." According to designer Allegra Hicks, it's more about classical than gimmicky technology.
Luxury Treehouse?
I found a post from the History Channel (assuming the post is legit) on Craigslist. "The History Channel is launching a, well, historical makeover series, and our professional builder will build, in your back yard, an authentically detailed treehouse modeled on the 17th century Pitchford House in England." The email address is included at the bottom of the post: History Channel TreeHouse.
February 07, 2005
Solar Floating Pool Lights
If you have a pond or a pool and always thought floating lights would be a nice addition, why not try solar powered lights? Since they're powered by the sun, no need to change batteries or worry about electricity, and floating pool lights create a neat look in your backyard at night. Most are small enough that they could be used in a water garden or even a bird bath as well.
More information on pool lighting or view products for sale at Smart Home.
Microwave Ovens That Read Bar Codes?
The Beyond Microwave comes with a barcode scanner. It stores over 4,000 products in its database (yes, a microwave with a database--who'd'a thunk?), then knows just how long and at what setting to cook the product. The Beyond Microwave, following the latest trend of kitchen appliances, can be hooked up to the Internet if you add on the "Home Hub." This ensures the microwave stays up to date with the latest products and their barcodes. The microwave itself is available at Amazon and other stores for less than $250, but the hub is quite pricey.
Beyond Microwave Oven with Barcode Scanning
February 06, 2005
Smart Clocks
Philippe Starck, considered by some as "the world's leading exponent of expressionist architecture," working with Oregon Scientific has created a "smart clock." The clock tells time, air pressure, temperature, and humidity, not to mention showing off the phase of the moon. The clocks come in small, medium, and large sizes with red, yellow, and gray as color options for the clock face.
Smart Clock
Converting Barns to Homes
High ceilings and open living areas have increased the appeal and popularity of urban lofts in the city. Those of us who prefer the suburbs, or even quiet rural areas, have noticed it's hard to find a loft outside of urban areas littered with hundred year old converted buildings. Believe it or not, barns are starting to fill that niche. People are buying up old barns in the countryside and turning them into luxurious homes with the same open areas and high, exposed beam ceilings.
If this sounds like something you'd be interested in doing, Barns : Living in Converted and Reinvented Spaces is a large, full color book with a lot of photographs of barns converted into luxury homes. It's full of before and after pictures and handsome enough for a coffee table book.
February 05, 2005
Stone Sculpture Lights
Das Art combines stone sculptures with lighting elements. The hard carved stones are translucent and lit from within by electric light or a candle. The illuminated stone sculptures "connect you to your environment, and ultimately to the universe, in a contemporary and timeless way."
Or they just look neat.
Stone Lights at Das Art
Earthships
If you're looking for an environmentally friendly vacation home (or even a primary residence), you might want to take a look at the Earthship Biotecture site. Designed to limit human intrusiveness on the earth, the Earthship is "a completely independent globally oriented dwelling unit made from materials that are indigenous to the entire planet."
Also related: Green Home Building: Earthship.
February 04, 2005
Bose + iPod
The iPod may have started out as a portable mp3 player, but Bose has teamed up with Apple to create a dock that can pump your iTunes through your house. The Bose SoundDock Digital Music System has a slim, sleek design that will fit most decors. It works with both iPod and iPod mini. The system costs about $300 and outputs Bose quality sound. The iPod charges as it plays for uninterrupted play.
Metal Roofing for Houses?
Metal roofing sales have doubled over the last 5 years. What's the appeal?
Metal roofs are a premium product that cost as much as a 20 year warranty asphalt/fiberglass roof, but they come with some perks. Metal roofs don't crack, rot, or warp, and they are highly resistant to the elements, even hail and fire. The fact that they can usually be installed over existing roofs (reroofing) makes them good choices for people who needed to replace the roof anyway. Metal roofs typically come with longer warranties than other roofing materials as well.
More information: Better Homes & Gardens: Roofing Ideas
Red Carpeting & Drapes--too much or hip and happening?
Is red a desirable decorating color or is it too powerful, something best left for eccentric homeowners? An article in the Winstone-Salem Journal considers the merits (and demerits) of applying red to a den or library as well as offering a few decorating tips such as "A desk or reading table of dark wood should be accompanied by one or more chairs that are upholstered for comfort and color." Read "Den / library may be perfect place for red carpeting and drapes" for the complete story.
February 03, 2005
Building a Backyard Pool? Don't Forget Building Codes
If you're thinking about building a swimming pool in the backyard, there's more to it than just hiring a contractor and digging a hole. According to the Pool Idea Book, a pool is considered a major construction project and anytime you do something like that local officials and utility companies are going to want to chat with you. Before you get started, you should check your local zoning laws, building codes, and safety/health codes. You'll also need to take a look at your property deed and any restrictions that might be in place because of "subdivision covenants" (p. 17).
Decorative Ceiling Beams
Like the look of exposed beam ceilings? It doesn't matter if your house came with beams or not--you can add decorative beams to your ceiling to achieve the same look.
Why Beams?
Decorative beams can add structure and interest to a room. Their lines can change the way you perceive the dimensions of a room as well (beams running from side to side across a room make it seem wider; beams running lengthwise make the room feel longer).
Beams generally work best in large rooms where they can bring out the grandness of the area. In smaller rooms such as bathrooms or entryways, beams aren't always a good choice as they can make the area feel crowded.
Beams: What Materials?
Decorative beams can be as little as hollow cardboard structures painted to look like real beams. Similarly, styrofoam ceiling beams can be made to look real. If you have a little more to spend, solid reclaimed timbers make a good choice and create an authentic old-world feel.
Source: Decorating with Architectural Details
February 02, 2005
How to Get on Television Design/Remodeling Shows
You've probably seen the television shows on TLC, HGTV, and the like. You know, the ones where someone with an old shag-carpet-popcorn-ceiling-ancient-light-fixtures house or room gets to see it redone into a modern, luxurious dwelling. They always have talented designers, contractors, and architects, and many of the shows foot the bill. So, how do you get on? I've gone out and scrounged information for the various shows and placed links to them below. (You may want to bookmark this entry, because I'm going to try and keep the information updated and add to it as I think of more shows to check into).
List of Application Links for Getting on Television Design Shows:
Queer Eye for the Straight Guy Application. Not only do these guys redesign your house, they give you a stylish new wardrobe.
TLC's Trading Spaces "Get on the Show". With the help of professional designers, you and your neighbors swap houses for 2 days to redo each others' rooms.
Get on TLC's While You Were Out. Surprise a family member by having his/her room professionally remade while he/she's gone.
ABC's Extreme Makeover Home Edition. Rebuilding an entire house to help people who deserve a fantasy home but can't afford it.
HGTV's Designed to Sell. If you need to sell your home soon, but it's outdated, this show helps modernize everything to appeal to potential buyers. (You have to be relatively close to Hollywood for this one)
HGTV's House Hunters. Get help finding a new home in the neighborhood of your choosing.
HGTV's "Urgent Casting Calls" Find out about landscaping, remodeling, and design shows they need people for right now.
I'm trying to find information on how to get onto the Travel Channel's Amazing Vacation Homes and Vacation Home Search, so please leave a comment if you know where to look.
February 01, 2005
MTI Whirlpool Bathtub
Freestanding bathtubs are popular again today, giving an old-fashioned, elegant look to the bathroom. However, many consumers prefer the perks technology is bringing to bathtubs, such as hydrotherapy jets. The Antigua Bath (granted the Product Innovator Award by Kitchen & Bath Business) combines vintage design with the luxury of thermo-air massage. The double wall of the tub conceals the necessary pipes inside. The 59x21 inch tub is available in more than 50 colors to match any bathroom.
MIT Whirlpools Antigua Bathtub