A lot of design in green homes often raises the question – how much space do we really need? Architect Michael Katz and designer Janet Corne offer the L41 (“all for one”) that squeezes everything you need into 220…
Monthly Archives:
June 2010
So you spent your hard earned cash on Trex or one of the other big name composite decking brands. You were sold on the idea that this product was low maintenance. No need for staining and the deck will…
The Dwell on Design tradeshow was fun but what we were really looking forward to was the Dwell Home Tours. Dwell sets up an Eastside and Westside tour of 6 homes each that are all built in a Modern…
Ever get stuck on a home decor project? Have problems envisioning a room finished (you know, past the bare drywall and exposed wires)? Or wondering how an out-of-this world color palette might actually work together, but afraid of purchasing…
I have luckily (knock on wood) haven’t had to buy any major appliances yet. I know, I know. I’ve always been able to get great hand-me-downs or move into a place that was properly outfitted. But now that my…
While in Maui we had the pleasure of visiting designer Xorin Balbes latest project he’s named, Ke-Ao Lanihuli which translates to “The light from the heavens to overturn old conditions bringing enlightenment.” The name is certainly fitting for this…
Many people are completely intimidated by the concept of going green. It really feels like if you don’t start using a rain barrel, install solar panels on your roof, eat, drink and breathe 1000% organic, and compost every living…
To help consumers add years to the life of their air conditioning system, Bill Cunningham, a home cooling and energy efficiency expert with Lennox – a leading manufacturer of heating and cooling products – suggests the following tips for…
For the most part anything that Disney touches turns to gold so we won’t bet against their plan to build luxury homes. According to the Wall Street Journal: Walt Disney Co. plans to unveil Wednesday its first foray into…
Two recent news stories – an article in The New Yorker entitled The Plastic Panic and a CNN television investigative report called Toxic America – got me thinking, yet again, about the dangers lurking in our own homes. I…
We just returned from Black & Decker University in Towson, MD where we were invited to attend the official launch of the DeWALT 12V* MAX Lithium-Ion Cordless power tool system. There were presentations from the design build team and…
Paslode is now offering a tool decal or graffiti or “Skin” for its Cordless Framing Nailer that promotes Breast Cancer Awareness. Called Let’s Nail The Cure, the decal fits on the millions of Paslode Cordless Framing nailers in use…
Ace Hardware just shared with us a great discount that we wanted to pass along. This week you can receive $10 off your next order of $100 or more on AceHardware.com (see coupon above for additional details). Enter “HelpfulAce”…
We’re headed to Baltimore where we’ll be introduced to the latest offering from DeWALT at the Black & Decker University. You won’t believe how excited we are to be the first to check out DeWALT’s 12V MAX product platform…
A couple years ago, I went on an architectural tour of a mid-century home that had a nuclear fallout shelter in the backyard. I kept imagining how tense and uncertain the Cold War atmosphere must have been for people…
Last week I had the opportunity to do an interview with HGTV designer Libby Langdon and home tech specialist David Gregg. I called in and could watch them answer my questions via a live feed on my computer. There…
It’s still granite! In a recent article from Consumer Reports, granite accounted for 56 percent of kitchen counter sales in the last year. This surface shows no signs of slowing in popularity. Quartz (Caesarstone and Silestone) and laminate (Formica),…
Buh, bye basic browns! Why stain that old adirondack chair in a basic wood when you can choose from colors like avocado and purple velvet? Olympic exterior stains has added to their wood tones with great colors for the…
If you’ve got a big enough lawn that requires a riding mower then the time is now to shop for some great new offerings. Manufacturers are now realizing the strength of the market and have developed some lawn mowers…
Imagine my surprise–and delight–when a Mashable alert popped up on my iPhone with this enticing headline: “5 Gadgets That Will Transform Your Home.” It’s not terribly often that the self-proclaimed “online guide to social media” delves into home topics,…
Many people are completely intimidated by the concept of going green. It really feels like if you don’t start using a rain barrel, install solar panels on your roof, eat, drink and breathe 1000% organic, and compost every living…
According to a recent report from CNN Money – home building is taking a break. They report that housing starts fell 10% last month. Forecasts may have originally been too optimistic. April was the last month in which first-time…
It was a dark and stormy night… Oh wait, no it wasn’t. It was darkish. And overcast. And really stormy. But it was the middle of the day. And it was the last day to enjoy my mature honeysuckle…
Life delivers plenty of bumps, chips, dents and scratches. To your walls, of course. Who are you calling dented? What I mean is that the walls of your house take a beating. Furniture gets bumped and pets scratch, leaving…
We’re in Maui this week checking out a few green building projects that will all meet various residential needs achieved in different ways. Hawaii has always been a leader in eco-friendly building projects and protecting the environment for future…
If the humidity where you are is anything like what I’m experiencing in Kansas City, well . . . you know what it’s like to be outside in air that feels like soup! A common household problem during muggy…
It’s on now! Our Father’s Day Tool Giveaway from SKIL. Check it out over at our Tools blog.…
Can’t decide on just one tool for Dad? Enter our giveaway and you’ll have a chance to make this his best Father’s Day ever by giving him four of his favorite cordless tools from SKIL. Starting today you can…
We just got note that the Sears Blue Crew has launched a new website. It looks like it’s straight out of Starship Enterprise! They are calling it the Sears Blue Crew HQ digital platform where “the Sears experts will…
The world is abuzz literally with World Cup fever. Despite the audio during the opening game that played an annoying buzzing sound emanating from the crowd, the first match started out well as host country South Africa and Mexico…
A survey taken by American Express (and reported by MarketWatch of The Wall Street Journal digital network) indicates that a majority of homeowners will continue to invest in home improvements throughout the remainder of the year. According to survey…
Despite the increasing array of environmentally friendly interior paint available, many consumers still prefer the graphic punch of wallpaper. If you’re seeking an eco-friendly alternative to traditional papers, consider the “Eco” line from Graham & Brown. According to the…
For the home improvement amateurs and experts, tools are a necessary part of the job. And with new models coming out in a nearly constant rotation, the temptation to add to a tool collection is ever-present. Thanks to the…
Craigslist can be a DIY’ers dream. Just about everything under the sun can be found for purchase, and usually for a decent price. On the flipside, selling unused or excess items from your home and projects can be an…
It’s nearly summer. And with skyrocketing temperatures come the chance for severe weather and power outages. In July 2006, we spent nearly a week sans power at This D*mn House in 100-degree heat following a series of back-to-back storms…
Designer Ashley Legg has come up with a Smart Fridge concept with one goal in mind: to keep track of what’s in your fridge and help you plan meals accordingly. Her idea is to develop a fridge that will…
How fun is it to scour through someone else’s junk looking for that perfect piece or vintage find? Sometimes you hit the jackpot and uncover a diamond in the rough (how’s that for cliches?). There’s plenty of good junk…
Great article in the New York Times about why appliance repairman are so expensive. It still doesn’t lessen the blow when you get the final bill but at least this helps explain some of the charges that are passed…
Head over to our Facebook page where we are giving away a DeWALT ToughCase. You’ve got two-days to enter and we pick our winner at Noon Pacific Time on Wednesday June 9th. The DeWALT ToughCase is the perfect companion…
Nowadays, people have been changing their lifestyles. They are now finding other ways to live healthily without hurting the environment. Over the years, companies and individuals started to make products that people can use just like the others but…
As builders and developers rush to attain LEED accreditation for their new homes, some wonder if the LEED certifications need to be amended to allow for testing of indoor air quality. Tom Silva of This Old house always stressed…
It’s amazing how versatile an $8 Ikea lack table can be. I spotted Kyle Freeman’s DIY kitchen island on Apartment Therapy last year and I still think about how clever he is. He used extra strong, double-sided foam adhesive…
Many people are completely intimidated by the concept of going green. It really feels like if you don’t start using a rain barrel, install solar panels on your roof, eat, drink and breathe 1000% organic, and compost every living…
Dremel has a unique distinction within the tool industry as being a undisputed leader in its class with no real challengers. When you need a Dremel you need a Dremel and sometimes its hard to imagine working without one.…
A great weekend project is making sure your home is clear of overgrown tree limbs. It may not be a pressing issue but cutting back these limbs can prevent issues down the road such as the branches and limbs…
I know, I know, I have a thing for putting weird stuff on the ceiling — which is why I was SO EXCITED to see a link pop up in my Twitter stream about someone actually doing what I’d…
Here are six questions you should ask yourself before deciding to buy a gun to protect your home.…
Maytag has voluntarily issued a huge recall of dishwashers that have been known to be a fire hazard. There are approximately 1.7 million units that are affected by this recall which includes the Whirlpool brands of Maytag, Jenn-Air, Amana,…
Maybe it’s just me. But I often get the urge for heavy duty water pressure in the kitchen sink. You know, the kind that will blast off that stuck on food. Or give your husband a shocking shower while…