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As the weather gets warmer and our thoughts turn to spring cleaning, re-modeling or just wanting a new look, we look to get rid of the old in order to make room for the new. Yard debris from cleaning out the gutters & flower beds to old furniture that Goodwill may or may not take, it all has to go…but where? First off, decide how much effort you want to put into the donation/disposal process. A rummage sale is a great way to get rid of your stuff & make some extra cash…but there will be the pricing (and tax implications come next 4/15), and in some areas you’ll nee...
This is a topic that’s rather new for me as I typically deal with the INTERIORS of spaces and not the exteriors…BUT, some very cool stuff was to be had at both Pella PRO Event this past April & KBIS (Kitchen & Bath Show) held in Chicago this year. PaperStone (www.paperstoneproducts.com) is one of the most innovative products at the KBIS show. PaperStone is the greenest architectural surface on the planet. It is certified by the Forest Stewardship Council standard by the SmartWood program of the Rainforest Alliance. Made from 100% post-consumer recycled office paper or 100...
Did you ever wonder what happens to furniture that you donate? Or furniture that doesn’t get sold at a flea market? Well, if Jason Fox or Guy Ellis is around, these discarded pieces become works of custom art. Jason and Guy make up Purpose Restoration, a company that re-imagines reclaimed furniture. With their team of graphic designers, carpenters, refinishers and artists they create custom graphic designs and hardware and repurpose furniture into works of art. ***Purpose Restoration’s philosophy is “why create when you can recreate?”*** The following services are off...
“It takes thousands of knots to make a beautiful rug. And another one to make sure a child didn’t weave it.”-RugMark USA Did you know that over 250,000 children in S Asia are illegally employed in rug factories weaving rugs that ultimately end up on American’s floors? This industry is one of the largest “employers” of child labor in the world. GoodWeave, and its predecessor, RugMark, are the organization behind the GoodWeave certification program that ensures the rug you are purchasing for your home was not made by child labor. This program helps to free th...
OK…it may be July, but here is WI we all know that the cold weather is always in the back of our minds. But did you know that energy efficiency is a year round concern, and not just one of cold weather months? With rising energy costs, the costs of keeping our homes at a comfortable temperature can be UN-comfortable. So what’s a homeowner to do? One of the easiest, and most energy efficient options is to check to see where your home may be “leaking” energy…(i.e. air is escaping) which can add to your utility bills in that the cool (or warm) air escapes. This is ...
Faucets are the jewelry of the sink and add that little bit of sparkle that can help turn an ordinary bath or kitchen into a show-stopper. As stated previously, the main theme at KBIS 2009 was eco-friendly and water conservation. The trend was definitely towards hands-free faucets or sensors. With these faucets you can set the temperature to a pre-determined temp (perfect for a guest bath/powder room/kid’s bath), for universal design and/or for water conservation as the water shuts off automatically (also great for a kid’s bath). Here’s some of what was “hot” at ...
What an AWESOME show today! I learned a lot & am now ready to run home & check my gutters...good grief, the exciting life I lead...1) The effects of ice damming, if you had water penetration and what to look for inside and outside now that the snow has melted. Ice damming is actually the snow compacted against your roof that is melting due to the warmth coming from the house & the cold of the outside air/snow. This melting snow can get underneath the shingles (especially if damaged/missing), the roof paper or into your gutters and then back up. You MUST make sure gutters are sloped...
Here are some of the tips of the show to have an eco-friendly, healthy & "green" Christmas...even if you live in the tundra! Be more thoughtful & "intentive" in your gift-giving. Don't buy something just to fill up a stocking or box. Make sure each item has a positive meaning! It's better to receive 1 well thought out gift, than a bunch of "stuff". Be aware of WHERE the item is from! Support local businesses and artisans. You are supporting your community & lower transportation costs (i.e. lower carbon emittance).READ the LABELS! We had an entire episode devoted to green-w...
(This is from the After Show blog on the CasaVerde radio show I host...great tips/deal that I wanted to pass on www.blogtalkradio.com/casaverde ) Hi All-Krista is an incredible, engaging guest, besides being outrageously knowledgable!! We disccussed the proper layering/dressing of a bed, thread count & an incredible offer from Peacock Alley to all CasaVerde listeners...Krista first told us that we need to think of dressing a bed, as dressing ourselves...we need to start w/the proper undergarments or foundations. In the case of our beds, that would be a mattress pad, a feather bed and/or a...
Hi Everyone-Here is vendor info from show today if interested in finding out more. Some vendors may only work w/the trade (designers, architects, contractors)...Environmental Language www.el-furniture.com: A new line of eco-friendly furnitureO Eco Textiles www.oecotextiles.com: A new line of sustainable, eco-friendly fabrics of hemp, bamboo and organic cotton. More on textiles on a special show in the new year where we'll only talk fabric.Q Collection www.qcollection.com: Really liked this line of eco-friendly fabrics!! Great colors, great fibers...Furniture & accessories are also incl...
Hi Everyone- Just a note to let you know about some very special shows we've got coming up! On the CasaVerde radio show (www.blogtalkradio.com/casaverde) 10:30a CST 11/1/09- Updates from DESIGN CHICAGO 11/22/09- COLOR Chronicles w/Tara Rae Hill: this will be a monthly feature on COLOR. We will explore the history of specific colors, color theory AND therapy, and the difference applications of color for education, healthcare, residential/commercial. Feng Shui, food & some fashion tips as well. This episode we discuss "holiday" colors of GREEN, WHITE & RED 11/29/09- RED HOT & GREEN-t...
I just got back from the Kitchen/Bath International Show in Atlanta and came across some great info, which will be discussed further in upcoming shows. Today, I wanted to discuss the rumors of Granite being a dangerous material to have in your home due to radon emissions...This couldn't be further from the truth.The rumors started in July of 2007 with a “scare" of granite being dangerous and polluting indoor air quality through the emissions of radon into the home. ***Radon is a naturally occurring gas that is found in the soil around your home. Too much can be bad, and if it is found in...
At the KBIS show in Atlanta, I had the pleasure of attending a lecture by Randall Whitehead, a lighting designer, who besides being a great designer is an author (Lost Dolls available on his website www.randallwhitehead.com). Here are some of the highlights of Randall’s talk: There are 4 types of lighting: task, ambient, accent and decorative. Task lighting is the lighting you have in specific locations to make it easier to see/do specific tasks (i.e. reading, cooking, shaving…). Ambient lighting is your general lighting from overhead or up-lighting. Accent lighting is what you u...
In this last article from KBIS and hot new trends for kitchen and baths, we focus on the faucet. Faucets are the jewelry of the sink and add that little bit of sparkle that can help turn an ordinary bath or kitchen into a show-stopper. As stated previously, the main theme at KBIS 2009 was eco-friendly and water conservation. The trend was definitely towards hands-free faucets or sensors. With these faucets you can set the temperature to a pre-determined temp (perfect for a guest bath/powder room/kid’s bath), for universal design and/or for water conservation as the water shuts off autom...
Ahhhh, the mighty throne….oh, not the gold-encrusted chair one thinks of for royalty, but the usually white porcelain seat found in bathrooms across the world. These commodes…thrones…toilets are THE most important seat in the house for the obvious and not-so-obvious reasons. We take our toilets for granted, that they will work efficiently and hygienically AND be aesthetically pleasing. At the KBIS (Kitchen and Bath Expo) in Atlanta a few weeks ago, the commode was the star of the show. Trends in bathroom fixtures are ALL featuring water conservation and eco-friendly option...
Some other great trends that are occurring in bathroom design, is the incorporating of more universal design elements AND making them aesthetically pleasing…NOT making a bathroom looking like a hospital bathroom. As the population is aging, even if YOU aren’t retiring in the near future-incorporating Universal Design features into a bathroom remodel will not only add value to your home if you are selling in the near future BUT will ensure that your bathroom is ready if and when it may be needed for you or your family. ***Universal Design features aren’t only for the elderly...
Innovations and strides continue to be made in carpeting and flooring options. As has been discussed in previous columns, wall-to-wall carpeting can off-gas for up to 5 years after installation. Plus, carpeting is one of the largest contributors to waste in land-fills. Therefore, any strides in making carpeting a more eco-friendly and viable option for our spaces are fabulous. Here are some of the newest additions to eco-friendly and GREEN flooring vendors: l Dinoflex Group: recycled rubber flooring which can be recycled again, low-VOC manufactured from recycled tire rubber! The tiles can wit...
I’ve been seeing a lot of rainwater collection systems appearing at shows. The most unique, and stylish, system I’ve seen comes from Second Rain (www.second-rain.com). First off you may be asking is WHY would I want to collect rainwater…well collecting rainwater can help protect from a future drought or dry spell in summer, helps to reduce erosion, rainwater is BETTER for your plants and garden as there are more nutrients and few chemical additives than tap water (who knew?), helps to save money on your water bill (this alone is worth it!), reduces your environmental footpri...
After returning home from the KBIS (Kitchen & Bath expo) in Atlanta, I thought I’d share some of the strides being made in some slighted, but VERY important design aspects of our baths and kitchens-the countertops and drawer pulls. When we think of designing our kitchens and baths, we tend to focus on cabinets, flooring and faucets…the rest seems to be after-thoughts. AND, who knew that there were eco-friendly options in this category…. Let’s start with counter-tops…While granite still reigns supreme as the medium of choice-recycled glass, cement and quart...
Cleveland OH is the home of a great new GREEN deconstruction company. GREEN Deconstruction Services specializes in “reverse construction”, which is defined as the orderly and selective disassembly of a building, structure or part of a home, saving select components for re-use or recycling. GDS works with homeowners, contractors, architects, builders and demolition companies of all types. Items to be “deconstructed” include: millwork, doors, fireplace mantles, brick and stone, windows, cabinets, sinks, shower doors, lights, hardware, hardwood floors, structural componen...