I'm back in New York this week and have had the pleasure to attend a couple of events and visit with some old friends and colleagues. It's also the first time we've traveled with our 8-month old son and he's been awesome. We have kept him on West coast time so he joins us for late dinners and sleeps in - perfect!
The International Contemporary Furniture Fair (ICFF) is this weekend and this is my first time attending. I was great to walk the floor of Javits and see all of the innovative products and designs. A few really stood out including the CSYS LED tasklight from Jake Dyson.
Jake himself demonstrated how the light works. The smooth action swivels 360 degrees and up and down with ease. The LED is dimmable and stays focused only on your desk so there is no glare. If you raise the light you can increase the size of the focal point but still no glare.
But the most innovative part of this light is the heat dissipation. Mr. Dyson has incorporated heat pipe technology which he demonstrated that draws the heat away from the lamp. According to Dyson this will allow the LED to perform at peak levels for 37+ years. We already know how long LED's last so this is even improves on that.
It retails for $900 but if you are seeking the best designed and engineered LED desk lamp available then this is your best choice.
Unless you've been hiding under a rock you have heard the news that this is the year that the government has mandated we begin changing over to the new energy efficient lightbulbs such as CFL's and LED's.
The cost of CFL's has gone down considerably but LED's are still on the high side but these will soon be your only option as the sale of incandescent lightbulbs is being phased out. You probably can't find a 100W lightbulb anywhere and the 75W are most likely extinct near you. 60W bulbs are probably the highest wattage you'll find at your local home center and unless you find a store selling overstock you're more likely to find more CFL's available.
We were waiting until our bulbs all burnt out before switching over and finally have the office on CFL's. We received a selection of bulbs from Ace Hardware including the incandescents they still sell and its clear they want you to consider them for your bulb buying needs as they offer about 90% of the bulbs that you'd need for your home.
Where do you stand on converting your lightbulbs? Are you hoarding incandescents? What concerns do you have about using CFLs?
With all of the recent talk of the government regulating the sale of incandescent bulbs, we got to thinking, why not make our own light bulbs. A friend of ours makes it sound like it's not too difficult but to really make a functioning bulb that works in your home would be asking a lot.
MAKE offers a kit for making your own bulb that is more like a science project and teaches the basics of how a light bulb works.
A fun science kit designed to excite and engage experimenters of all ages as they recreate the experiments that lead to the development of the first real light bulb. Build your own working light bulb using the included safety vacuum chamber and a number of different filament materials including carbon and tungsten.
Included in this kit:
Safety Vacuum Chamber
Hand Vacuum Pump
Filament materials including tungsten and carbon
Test Leads
28 page full color instruction manual
Not included (required)
2 6-volt alkaline lantern batteries
Thanks to a record number of people who are turning 65 in the coming years, Universal Design is becoming the hot topic when it comes to home building and renovating. Simply put, Universal Design means enhancing the accessibility and functionality of a home so that it can serve all residents, even those with disabilities or mobility issues.
The great thing about Universal Design is that it's smart, functional design that makes sense--whether you're aging or not. We've talked about UD before here at C&H, and with the latest round-up of UD-friendly products released by Builder magazine, we thought it was prime time to revisit the subject. If you're looking to incorporate UD into your home, this list provides an excellent starting point--and much of it is DIY-friendly, too.
Top Universal Design Products
*A keyless lock. Check out models from Yale and other companies that allow you to open a locked door by entering a code on a keypad.
*Lever handles. These are much easier to grip and use, and their sleek design complements most any furniture and decor.
*Touch faucets. Not only do these help save water and are more energy-efficient, touch faucets are convenient and thoughtfully designed.
