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April 27, 2005
Luxury Dog Houses
So, you've actually managed to convince your dog to sleep (or at least hang out) in the backyard instead of on indoors the couch/bed/recliner. That's more than we ever managed with our pets. If you do have an outdoor dor, it might be nice to give Fido a place to hide from the shade or the rain when you're not home. Any sort of cover would do, but you might want a dog house that actually looks good in your backyard. There are lots of options available that don't require much assembly.
Here are a couple you can check out:
The Mansion Dog House
Mini Mansion Dog House
Room with a View Dog House
The Chalet Dog House
Infrared Grills, the Barbecue of the Future
As summer approaches, more people are wheeling their old grill out of the garage or thinking of buying an upgrade. While gas and charcoal grills remain popular, today's technology is offering something new: an infrared grill. One example is the Fire Magic "Ultimate Barbecue" from RH Peterson. The grill's infrared elements heat up to 1700 degrees; this certainly cooks meat swiftly and (according to the site) is great for sealing in flavor. These infrared grills aren't cheap, but if you're serious about your grilling, it may be something to look into.
Also read: Pricey New Gadgets Heat Up Winter Grilling from the Wall Street Journal (the article looks at infrared grills and other toys).
Anti-Scald Valves for Showers
Most new bathrooms come with anti-scald valves, but if you're living in an older house, you might be familiar with the experience of wild fluctuations in the water temperature when someone else in the house draws on the water supply. Anti-scald valves are relatively simple to install compared to other bathroom components that get upgraded during renovations.
The two main types of valves are pressure-balancing valves and thermostatic valves. Pressure-balancing valves are cheaper and easy to find. They detect and compensate for pressure changes in the hot/cold water supplies. Thermostatic valves keep the water output temperature the same regardless of changing pressures. Most of them come with a volume control and some can even be set to maintain a constant preprogrammed temperature.
You should avoid cheap anti-scald valves. Though they can offer some protection, they don't work as well as the higher-end models.
Source: New Bathroom Idea Book
April 21, 2005
Whole House HEPA Filters
Today's new houses have become good at energy efficiency by keeping more heat in. The downside? Allergens and indoor pollutants get trapaped inside, too. HEPA filtrations systems are no longer limited to small room-based units. Models like the Fantech Whole House HEPA Filtration System attach to your house's central air or heating system and filter your air to keep it clean and pure. At $435, the system is pretty affordable, too (I paid 1/3rd of that last year for a HEPA air purifier for one room).
Kitchen & Bathroom Show
If you're looking for a reason to take a trip to Las Vegas next month, the 2005 Kitchen/Bath Industry Show and Conference will have a lot of neat toys, showcasing the coming trends for these favored household rooms. The conference is from May 9-12 and the expo is from May 10-12, both at the Las Vegas Convention Center.
Information on registering is at kbis.com.
Bathroom Sink Materials: Your Choices
Whether you're remodeling the whole bathroom or just replacing a chipped sink, there are a number of different kinds of sink materials to choose from. Prices vary, and they each have different strengths.
Ceramic Sinks
You can get custom glazed ceramic sinks from local potteries and from some larger manufacturers. Overall, ceramic is reasonably durable, but sinks made from the material have a tendency to chip or crack.
Vitreous China
One of the more common bathroom sink materials, vitreous china stands up well to even abrasive cleansers. Despite that, they can also crack and chip over the years.
Enameled Cast Iron
Cast-iron sinks are as tough as they sound. They're fairly impervious to cracks, though it's possible to chip to finish with enough abuse.
Enameled Steel
Enameled steel sinks are not quite as indestructible as enameled cast iron; they are more likely to chip and they are also noisier than cast-iron. You don't see them so much today.
Stainless Steel
Stainless steel is more common in the kitchen than the bathroom, but these sinks can be appealing in the bathroom because they are easy to clean.
Cultured Stone
Cultured stone sinks are made from a mixture of crushed stone and polyester resins. The more money you spend, the more durable sink you get since more expensive ones have a higher percentage of strong minerals like quartz. Cheaper sinks often have a gel coat finish that cracks and blisters over time.
Solid Surface Sink Materials
Corian and related solid surface materials can be good choices because they are sturdy. If they do get scratched, that can be sanded out.
Source: New Bathroom Idea Book
April 13, 2005
Painted On Stainless Steel Finish for Appliances
What do you do if you like the look of stainless steel, but you're not interested in replacing your perfectly good appliances? You paint that stainless steel on, of course. GE puts out a paint for appliances that looks like the real thing, but that is based on automotive finishes and doesn't smudge like true stainless steel.
If you do want new appliances, but are turned off by the high prices of stainless steel, you might want to read Stainless Alternatives with Painless Price Tags, an article from the Real Estate section of the Wall Street Journal; it takes a look at some lower cost alternatives that have a similiar look: "To lure cost-conscious customers, some appliance makers are introducing similar-looking products made with cheaper materials, from aluminum to lower-grade steel painted in colors like "meteorite," and even plastic that looks like stainless steel."
April 10, 2005
Designer Ceiling Fans
Ceiling fans are good choices since air ventilation helps keep homes clean and allergon free, but a lot of the older fans out there are dated and drab. If you're looking for a fan that matches your decor or expresses your personality, you may want to take a look at Fanimation, Inc. They have a number of styles such as the single-bladed "Enigma" which moves air just as efficiently as its multi-bladed siblings.
April 09, 2005
Luxury Garage Doors
I know what you're thinking; what's luxurious about garage doors? Well, with today's two and three car garages, garage doors take up a significant portion of the front of the house. Their bland utilitarian features can slant the overall aesthetic of the house from impressive to blah. Did you know that non-generic garage doors can increase the resale value of your home?
Today's garage door trends are to incorporate the doors into the design of the house. You don't need to go so far as to order custom garage doors; many manufacturers are recognizing the homeowner's desire for better looking doors and offering more appealing styles. One example is carriage-style garage doors. They look like they open up like old-fashioned doors in carriage houses, but in fact slide up overhead, just like normal garage doors.
For ideas that might work for your home, check out these residential garage door manufacturers:
Clopay Wood and Metal Garage Doors
Summit Custom Wood Garage Doors
Designer Garage Doors
Between-the-Glass Window Blinds
Window blinds can be a hassle--it seems like the cord is always getting tangled or even if they work well, they gather dust. Pella's "between-the-glass" window blinds offer a solution to both those problems and can work with either windows or patio doors. The blinds actually go between the inside and outside panes of glass. There's no cord, rather you simply press a button to raise or lower the blinds.
Pella Between-the-Glass Window Blinds
Heating and Air Conditioning Goes Automatic
Heating and air conditioning may be standard in most new houses, but today's technology is changing the way we control the climates within our homes. For example, the Carrier WeatherMaker Infinity gas furnace has an easy to program control panel inside the house that can automatically turn on the heat at preset times of the day (i.e. the heat comes on 15 minutes before you get up to get ready for work, then turns off after you've left for work). The heating and air conditioning components can work independently from room to room as well, providing different temperatures in different "zones" of the house. You might want the living room at 72 degrees but keep rarely used rooms at 68. This is no problem for the Infinity which can handle 8 different zones. The control panel is easy to use, having a similar look and feel to today's hand-held technology such as mp3 players. You can get updates on all the zones in the house as well as the outside temperature. All of this automation not only makes your home more comfortable but it saves energy, too.
Related:
Central Air Conditioner Reviews
Infinity Control Thermostat
Home Heating Systems
April 07, 2005
Choosing a Jetted Bath Tub
Jetted bathtubs are among the most popular additions when homeowners remodel bathrooms. These luxurious tubs are available in many sizes and styles. The cost varies a lot depending on these factors. Taunton's New Bathroom Idea Book has a page on choosing a whirlpool tub. Here is a summary of some of the information offered (for a more complete list and more information on tubs and whirlpools in general, you may want to check the book out from the library):
When you buy a jetted tub, you should only get one as large as you need. Bigger tubs take a long time to fill and may need more than your hot water tank can handle.
To make sure you get a tub you will enjoy, hop in the various models on display in the showroom. The dealers won't mind and this will give you a chance to try them out before purchasing.
If you take long baths, look at models with in-line heaters. These will maintain the uniform temperature of your choosing for as long as you stay in tub.
Think about the jets: do you want a gentle massage or a deeper massage targeted at specific spots on your body? Larger jets handle the former, while smaller jets are perfect for the latter.
April 03, 2005
The Bathroom Goes High Tech
A recent article from the Wall Street Journal's Real Estate section takes a look at technology that is coming to a bathroom near you (maybe yours?). High-Tech Products Aim to Enliven Bathrooms mentions "programmable showers, television screens that appear to float in mirrors and toothbrush holders that zap germs with ultraviolet light." Interbath Inc.'s Electronic Shower System sounds like a good bet for when the bathroom is shared by multiple family members. The system remembers the preferred settings for each family member which includes temperature and water pressure from the various several showerheads. If you're looking for high tech bathroom remodeling ideas, start with this article.
Spin Sweep Pro by Hoover Makes Outdoor Cleanup Easier
I never understood the point of a leaf blower. Why push a leaf around when it makes a lot more sense to suck it up and be done with it? Well, the Spin Sweep Pro from Hoover is designed to tackle more than just leaves. It's sort of your own personal street sweeper. It's designed to work without cords or gas and can sweep up everything from leaves to beer cans. Best of all (at least for your neighbors) it doesn't make any noise.
Origami Massage Bath Tubs
If you're looking for a truly relaxing bath tub, check out the Origami line from BainUltra. The Origami 6032 uses air jets to apply acupressure treatment while you soak. Both aromatherapy and chromatherapy (light energy) features are available. There are five rectangular or oval tub choices in the Origami line. The 6032 retails for $2,300.
Adjustable Hand Showers
Adjustable hand showers make a lot of sense if you're remodeling your bathroom and thinking ahead to your retirement years when sitting in the shower might be preferable to standing. Or maybe you just like the idea of being able to direct where the spray hits you. Numerous manufacturers offer adjustable hand showers (you can even buy them online through Amazon) and installation is fairly simple for the average do-it-yourselfer. These hand-held showerheads can make the shower a more relaxing experience.
April 01, 2005
Timeshares for RVs?
Maybe you like the idea of taking off in a new luxury model RV, but aren't keen on the idea of spending 10s or even 100s of thousands on a rig you might only use for a couple weeks a year. Well, it shouldn't be any surprise that someone came up with a timeshare sort of deal with RVs. American Quarter Coach is one such company. You can buy either a 1/8, 1/4, or 1/2 share of a "luxury motor coach." The company takes care of the maintenance, insurance, cleanup, storage, and delivery. That means no immitating the tacky neighbors who leave their RV parked on the street year around. If you're looking for a no-hassle RV experience, it may be something to consider.
Tiki Bars Bring the Islands to Your Backyard
Granted, tiki bars aren't for everyone, but if you live in a warm climate, and you've ever fantasized about a tropical setting for your backyard, tiki bars can bring in a touch of the islands. Safari Thatch sells tiki bars, gazebos and pergolas, umbrellas, and bamboo furniture, all made with their trademark grass and palm thatch. If you're not ready for that kind of commitment, you can start small with some tiki torches, decorative rope, or hand-carved masks.
