January 02, 2006
Cork Walls, Anyone?
We've talked about cork flooring before, but how about cork on the walls or even the ceiling? Jelinek Cork offers cork tiles (accoustic, unsulated, standard, or tackboard) and even cork wallpaper designed to be stuck on your walls. Cork's sound-absorbing attributes are part of what make it appealing, but it's environmentally friendly too. As the company says, "No cork trees are cut down, only the bark is peeled without destroying the tree, and it grows back within nine years, ready to be harvested again." The accoustic cork tiles run $8.79 per 30cm x 60cm tile.
http://www.jelinekcork.com
November 22, 2005
Freestanding Electric Stoves
Electric stoves are becoming increasingly popular because they're even more convenient than gas fireplaces (which require a gas hookup). With these babies, just plug it in and poof: ambiance (and heat). It can be hard to find an electric stove that fits in with your decor though, especially if you live in an old, restored home. Sold by the Victorian Fireplace Company, the Solo Electric Stove is a freestanding unit that's meant to fit into older homes. Though it's a modern appliance, it's designed to look like an old-style oil stove. The cast iron unit weights 88 pounds, is available in three colors (black, green, and burgundy), and costs $699.
http://www.thevictorianfireplace.com
October 14, 2005
Ceiling Fan with HEPA Filter
Although there are some neat ceiling fans out there, like the Enigma Fan, ultimately fans just push around air in a room. The bladeless Purifan system is designed to replace a traditional ceiling fan and uses about the same amount of energy. Instead of simply recirculating air, the fan cleanses it. Room air is drawn into the fan, then unwanted contaminants (think pollens, pet dander, dust, etc.) are removed via a 3 stage filtration system that includes a HEPA filter. According to the company, the fan can refresh air in a 20 x 20 foot room in 90 seconds or 40 times an hour. The price for the Purifan is $360.
http://www.purifan.com/
August 27, 2005
Wavy Ceilings--Three Dimensional Ceiling Tiles
HGTV's I Want That took a look at a couple of cool new ceiling systems on their show this week, and let me say, the USG Ceilings Topo 3-D Ceiling System Panels are very unique. You need either a good sense of humor or an overriding desire to be different (maybe both) to install this wavy ceiling. The three-dimensional tiles are available in opaque and translucent styles in 5 colors. The company sells matching luminous panels (just in case you were wondering how you were going to hook your overhead lights to this thing).
http://www.usg.com/
http://www.hgtv.com/
Gas Logs
Many homeowners like the flip-on convenience of gas fireplaces, but prefer the look of an open hearth to the boxy shape of a gas fireplace insert or stove. These are the folks who might want to look into gas logs. Heatilator's Fireside Grand Oak Gas Logs won the 2005 Hearth, Patio & Barbecue Association Show's Vesta Award. The award recognizes innovation, quality, appearance and realism. In other words, these gas logs look like the real deal as they "burn" in your hearth.
http://www.heatilator.com/
August 10, 2005
Glass Stairs Underlit with LEDs
I'm not sure which is cooler: the glass stairs or the LED lighting coming up through them. The system was created by ThinkGlass, a company that makes everything from kitchen counters and sinks to floors and stairs out of glass. ThinkGlass promises that glass is more durable than people realize (at thicknesses above 1.5" it's "as strong as any stone") and will both last and make a lasting impression in your home.
August 09, 2005
Baseboard Heater Covers Hide Unsightly Heaters
So, you want to hide those old metal baseboard heat vents. Numerous companies make heater covers designed to do just that. They conceal the heaters but don't obscure their fuction. If you like the look of wood, Mission Woodworking offers "fully functional baseboard heat with the look of fine furniture." They use red oak and the price is $49 per linear foot.
http://www.missionwoodworking.com/
August 05, 2005
QuietZone Acoustyle Wood Ceiling System Cuts Noise
The QuietZone Acoustyle Wood Ceiling System from Owens Corning is designed to look good and keep noise down. It's also relatively easy to install. There's an installation video on their site if you want to see more details. The ceiling system comes in prefinished pieces of kiln-dried hardwood that is more cost-effective than custom millwork. It is available in a variety of designs and finishes.
QuietZone Acoustyle Wood Coffered Ceiling System
June 28, 2005
Classy Door Hardware
Just as new faucets and fixtures can spruce up the kitchen or bathroom, stylish glass or crystal doorknobs can perk up doors. Likewise, new hardware for kitchen and bathroom cabinets can add a unique look to those rooms. ER Butler & Co offers a wide selection of quality cabinet and door hardware. The crystal doorknob pictured below is from their E. & G.W. Robinson Collection.
http://www.erbutler.com/
June 21, 2005
Tubular Skylight
Tubular skylights (also known as light tubes, solar tubes, and sun tubes) perform the same function as traditional skylights (they let natural light into your home through the roof), but are designed to work in situations where there is an attic or crawl space above the room where you want the skylight. Through a roof-mounted skylight dome, elements designed to catch the sun filter it down a reflective tube and into the desired room. A tubular skylight can be more energy efficient than a regular skylight, according to http://www.sunpipe.com because their installation involves the removal of less roof insulation than a normal skylight which helps reduce heating and cooling costs.
http://www.sunpipe.com/
June 20, 2005
Remote Control Skylights?
Skylights are frequent additions when homeowners rennovate because they allow for the entry of natural light into a room. You also get a convenient window to the sky. Heat gain can be a problem with skylights, however, since some of them are exposed to the sun all day. Manufacturers like Velux have considered this problem and come up with motorized skylights that can be opened to let out the heat that naturally rises to the ceiling. Also, Velux offers Venetian blinds and roller shades for their skylights, which you can operate manually, via remote control, or through a wall-mounted keypad.
http://www.velux.com/
June 15, 2005
Home Elevators
Home elevators can make sense for those with mobility issues or for anyone with a number of floors to navigate. The LEV home elvator can be installed in tight areas (requiring as little as 24 square feet) because it doesn't need a separate machine room. According to their site, the LEV can be installed in two days. They can also do custom cab configurations and car sizes.
http://www.thelev.com/
May 01, 2005
Decorative Ceiling Planks
Decorative ceiling planks may be the answer to your ceiling woes, whether you have a drab ceiling that lacks interest or you want to cover up that 70s popcorn ceiling without calling out an inspector to test for asbestos. Much like wood flooring, Armstrong's WoodHaven Ceiling Planks are a fairly low key do-it-yourself install and add a lot of personality and interest to the ceiling. With a tongue and groove fit, the planks are easy to attach and provide a nice alternative to paint or stucco. The decorative ceiling planks are available in a number of different shades (everything from white to a dark knotty pine) and unlike heavily-trod floors require no maintenance after installation.
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).
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
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
March 11, 2005
Benefits of Hardwood Floors
Everyone likes the look of hardwood floors, but there are other benefits to installing them as well. Even with frequent steam cleanings, carpets hold in animal danders, mildew, mites, pollens, and dust. If you have any trouble with asthma or allergies, your house may be the number one culprit for keeping you down. Hardwood floors are also easier to clean than carpets.
Helpful sites that delve deeper into the benefits of hardwood floors:
Why Hardwoods?
The Seattle Floor site has a FAQ that addresses the benefits of hardwood floors and answers other floor questions.
Improving Air Quality in Your Home
The Winter 2005 issue of Home Appliance has a section on fighting asthma and allergies that can be triggered (or worsened) by air stuffed with invisible pollens, mold spores, animal danders, and the like. Here is a summary of the article's suggestions for improving the air quality in your home:
- Keep your home spic and span with frequent carpet/floor/upholstery cleanings.
- Good ventilation is key so try ceiling and exhast fans or even stand-alone units.
- Keep moisture and humidity under control as damp environments stimulate bacterial growth.
- Don't smoke indoors.
- If you have pets, wash them often to reduce dander
- Consider an air cleaner or air purifier (you can find both smaller units that stand alone in a room or large units that are hooked up to the house's ventilation system and clean the air throughout your home).
Find more information at www.cadr.org and www.carpet-rug.org or if you're thinking about buying Amazon has units like the Friedrich C-90A Air Purifier on sale.