вторник, 19 апреля 2011 г.

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Posted: 19 Apr 2011 08:04 AM PDT

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Sustain Your Life, Sustain Your Appliances

In a world filled with sustainable living ideas, it is difficult to think past recycle bins of bottles and cans. Why not live a green lifestyle and actually seeing some green growing in your pocket, too? This month, make an effort to break old habits and take a step away from energy-waste to energy-smart.

"By maintaining your appliances regularly, you can extend the life of your investment and save energy," said Doug Rogers, president of Mr. Appliance Corp.® "The harder an appliance has to work to do its job, the more energy it consumes in the process, which puts a strain on the appliance, the environment and on your energy bills."

Follow these simple tips from Mr. Appliance Corp. to make your appliances not only benefit planet earth, but also your pocketbook.

Open the Door to More Savings

• Give your refrigerator some breathing room by keeping the appliance at least two or three inches away from the wall. Also, place your refrigerator away from direct sunlight and appliances that produce heat to make your refrigerator run more efficiently.

• Do you crave a midnight snack, but can't decide what to eat? Keep your fridge full, not only to satisfy all of your midnight munchies, but also to help the fridge save energy after recovery from the door being open.

• Check and care for the rubber seals surrounding the inside of your fridge by using mild soap twice a year to help prevent cracked and torn seals. Use your money to test the seals by placing a dollar bill halfway inside the refrigerator door. If the dollar pulls out easily, then your losing money in more than one way and it may be time to replace the rubber seals.

• Enjoy a night of leftovers and defrost your fridge regularly. The frost build-up wastes energy by making the compressor run longer.

Keep the Heat Inside of Your Oven and Out of Your Pocket

• If you notice your food cooking unevenly or it is taking longer than before, it may be time to replace cracked or torn door seals that can allow up to 20% of heat to escape.

• When cooking up your favorite meal, turn off electric burners two to three minutes before you finish cooking and let the residual heat sauté the rest to perfection.

• Save yourself a step by planning out your cooking schedule to only bake in the oven instead of preheating. Sometimes there is no need to preheat if the food requires more than an hour in the oven.

• When tidying up your kitchen don't forget about your electric and gas burners. Clean burners allow for a more efficient use of energy.

Wash, Dry and Ring out the Best Savings For Your Wallet

• Use the high-speed cycle to toss out more moisture from your clothes, which allows for less time in the dryer and more time for you to spend your money saved.

• It's okay to air our your laundry, just make sure it is clean. Line-dry your clothes as much as possible, and you can see up to 5% saving on your energy costs.

• Clean your dryer lint screen after every use. Dryer efficiency decreases as lint collects over time. More importantly, lint build-up can be a fire hazard, so make sure to have it cleaned periodically by a professional.

• Refresh your clothes by washing a load in cold water. This saves on energy costs and helps lengthen the life of your clothes by preserving the color and the fabric.

Clean Plate, Clean Mind

• Save up to 20 gallons of water by hand -scraping your dishes, instead of running water for your pre-rinse.

• Give your dishes a breath of fresh air by turning your dishwasher setting to air-dry or open the dishwasher after the rinse cycle.

• Hold off on washing you dishes until you have a full load. Your dishwasher uses the same amount of water per cycle, so fill it up with all of your hand-scraped plates.

• Give your dishwasher a wash of its own by running an empty cycle with a citric acid-based cleaner. The cleaner will remove soap and calcium build-up that makes your dishwasher worker harder than it has to.

Follow these do-it-yourself energy efficient tips periodically by adding them to your family calendar. To help prolong the life of your appliances, combine these tips with regular visits from your local appliance repair professional.

Through the use of simple maintenance tasks you can extend the life of your appliances, your bank account and most importantly, our planet.

For more appliance and energy tips, visit mrappliance.com and follow us on Twitter @MrApplianceCorp and like us on Facebook at facebook.com/MrApplianceCorp.


About Mr. Appliance®:

Mr. Appliance® is North America's largest appliance repair franchise system. Established in 1996, its franchises feature full service residential and commercial appliance maintenance and repair. Recognized by Entrepreneur magazine's Franchise 500, Top 101 Home-Based Franchises and ranked Top Home Repair Franchise System, Mr. Appliance® has 130 locations throughout the United States and Canada. Mr. Appliance® is a subsidiary of The Dwyer Group, Inc. For more information, visit mrappliance.com.

Самомоднейшая кожаная мебель

Posted: 19 Apr 2011 05:26 AM PDT

Back in the day, the use of leather was for chairs and sofas only. Well, today interior decorating ideas can be found in everything from leather tables to leather cabinets. And the leather choices in looks and textures are endless. Before we show you some great examples of these pieces however, here are some tips on what to look for when purchasing leather furniture:

  • Before you purchase your leather furniture, consider where you will place the furniture and how much wear and tear you think it will be subjected to. If you have a large family or the furniture will be in a room that gets a lot of traffic, then consider purchasing middle-grade leather. This type of leather is easier to clean and can handle wear and tear better.
  • Leather naturally comes with imperfections so don’t be upset if you see scars and stretch marks on your leather pieces. This is not a flaw in your furniture, it’s just the natural breakdown of leather.
  • When purchasing a leather sofa, look for seat cushions that are zippered. Chances are the leather will last longer than the cushions and with zippers on the cushions, they will be much easier to change.
  • Make sure your leather furniture is all leather. If it’s a leather and vinyl combination, the vinyl will wear out first and make your furniture look the worse for wear.
  • Pets and leather furniture do not mix! If you have a dog or cat, their claws can ruin the leather so you may want to reconsider leather furniture altogether.

Now that we’ve given you the practical tips, here are some amazing examples of leather furniture that make their very own statements:

You all know how beautiful a Fendi pocketbook is. Well, Fendi has now turned its sights on interior design creating a line of leather furniture called the Fendi Casa collection. Following are two of its most beautiful pieces–a crocodile skin cabinet with a matching leather bar. Both pieces are also refinished in sleek lacquer. Molto elegante!

Fendi Casa leather bar

Do you REALLY love leather? Well, thanks to Walter Knoll you can now have a whole leather clad dining room! With the Bellows collection designed by Toan Nguyen everything from the chairs to, yes, even the tables are clad in leather. Now that’s luxury!

Leather table by Walter Knoll

Dining room set by Walter Knoll

Leather armchairs by Walter Knoll

Leather stools by Walter Knoll

Leather occasional table by Waler Knoll

Thinking of painting your walls? How boring? Why bother painting them when you can up the excitement level and add leather tiles to them instead. Designed by Cuir au Carre, these leather tiles come in an arrary of colors and textures that will add luxury to any room!

Leather panels for walls by Cuir au Carre

Leather panels for walls by Cuir au Carre

Leather panels for walls by Cuir au Carre

Here’s a leather collection for people that love leather and are also into recycling. Designer Maarten De Ceulaer took unused leather suitcases and created a collection of tables and dressers that are quite useful and look quite extraordinary!

Leather desk by Maarten De Ceulaer

Leather recycled furniture set by Maarten De Ceulaer

Leather furniture collection by Maarten De Ceulaer

His designs cause much controversy and are truly not for everybody but designer Michel Hallard extreme leather creations definitely make their own statement. Hallard seems to follow his own rules when it comes to recycling as he utilizes every part of the animal in his furniture designs. From skins to tusks to horns, every piece of the carcass is used in his works. Brings a new meaning to the phrase “waste not, want not”, doesn’t it ?

Exotic leather home furniture by Michel Hallard

Exotic leather strange furniture set by Michel Hallard

Exotic species leathers by Michel Hallard

Exotic strange furniture set by Michel Hallard

At the end of the day, it’s all about the bed. And for the true leather lover, we think there’s nothing better than this leather bed from Ceccotti Collezioni. Designed by Vincenzo De Cotiis, this leather bed, with its sleek metal accents, is the ultimate in comfort and chic minimalism.

Leather bed by Ceccotti Collezioni

Leather bed by Ceccotti Collezioni

Leather bed by Ceccotti Collezioni

Now we want to hear from you: want do you think of leather furniture?

Landscaping для воззвания обочины сделал легко

Posted: 18 Apr 2011 12:00 PM PDT

Landscaping for curb appeal is a great way to show that you care for your home, your yard and neighborhood. All of this makes for greater value of your property, and a greater chance of success when it comes time to sell your home.

There are some easy things you can do to get your yard in the best curb appeal shape possible, and much of it is just refreshing existing plants, and replacing others that are failing to thrive.

Key strategies to increase curb appeal

Some of the products that you need to have handy before beginning may include the following.

Mulch, bark, pine needles or wood chips for color contrast and easy maintenance
Depending on the type of climate you live in, you will want to have one of these products available. They are used as a filler to place in between plants. The purpose is to seal in water for your plants, but aesthetically, it provides a nice additional color that is very appealing. If you live in a high moisture or high termite risk area, pine needles are the material of choice. For those areas that are dry and hot, then wood chip and bark work great because they hold in the water that will best sustain your plants for longer, and with less usage of your garden hose.

Colorful plants that grow quickly
When you know that you’re getting ready to sell, annuals tend to be colorful, and they usually grow very quickly. Flowers such as petunias, pansies and daisies are great for a quick blast of colorful curb appeal. They are inexpensive to purchase in flats, and can easily be planted in a day. Make to use with potting soil for best results, as some of these plants experience transplant shock, and potting soil helps with that transition.

Local species that look great, and require less intervention
Another idea to avoid transplant shock and other issues is to consider using local plants. Many local species are also quick growing, and easily planted without too much expense. Native plants are low-maintenance which can be important when your other efforts to increase curb appeal can take up your time. local plants tend to look better longer and with less intervention, since they are conditioned by nature to survive in your local climate on their own.

Potted plants add character
A few strategically placed potted plants can quickly add character and color to your home’s exterior. The look of the plants themselves alone will render the kind of visual effects that contribute to boosted curb appeal. And the pots the plants come in can also lend a similar advantage. Look for pots that can stand on your front porch, as well as hanging planters that help to spread that floral color around.

Grass seed to fill in the gaps
If your lawn needs a boost, it is best to use grass seed to help fill it in and make it look thick. If your lawn is looking full but lacking life, consider using sulfate ammonia on your lawn. This inexpensive product, along with the seed, can give your lawn a quick shot of nutrients to give it that ultra-thick, dark green look in no time.

Start landscaping – increase curb appeal

Preparing your yard for installation of the new flowers and seed is important. Here is a procedure list that works well when getting your yard spring ready:

1. Clear out all weeds and debris.
This is important if you are planting new plants on top of weeds or dead materials, because this can inhibit growth and instead of providing curb appeal, you have simply added to the problem. Use tools like Hula Hoes, weed pullers and trimmers to get the area prepared for new life.

2. Trim all the existing plants.
This is when you get the current yard in its best condition. This will give you a great idea of where to start and where to add flowers.

3. Begin to plant.
Begin planting new flowers in spaces that you see need some color. You can also include window boxes and hanging plants at this time. Tip: many annuals are draping plants, meaning they grow very fast, and hang over whatever they are placed in. This is great for a full look in a short amount of time.

After all the plants have been planted, place the bark or mulch, or whatever product you have chosen around the flowers.

4. Seed the lawn.
Next, seed the lawn. Once this step has been completed, water everything very well. Once nicely wet, you can spread the sulfate ammonia, and water again. Sulfate ammonia needs to be wet right away or it will dry out your lawn. Make sure you water every day, add products like Miracle Grow spray food at least twice a week, and within a month you yard will be popping with curb appeal.

Enjoy Your Yard

Landscaping for curb appeal is a satisfying activity that will give you pride in your home, even if the idea of selling isn’t immediately on your mind. Step into spring with a blast this year, and show your neighbors that you can have the best yard in town.



Landscaping For Curb Appeal Made Easy is a post from: BuildDirect. We cover a variety of home improvement products including laminate flooring, hardwood floors, bamboo flooring, tile, decking and more. We also offer a wide range of info on interior design, housing trends, home how to, green building and living, and more.

Related posts:

  1. Developing a Landscaping Plan For Your Yard
  2. Eco-Friendly Landscaping: Where To Start
  3. Gardening Basics For Beginners

Green on the Outside: Siding for the Eco-Conscious

Posted: 18 Apr 2011 11:25 AM PDT

The home siding market is saturated with cheap, toxic, hard-to-justify products. Take, for example, the vinyl siding options that promise easy maintenance, durability and an incredibly low up-front investment. While vinyl and other plastics may be eye-catching, it’s important to remember that they’ll be around in dumps and landfills for thousands of years after they’ve adorned your home.

Luckily, when it comes to green siding, you’ve got plenty of options. To check pricing in your area, click here.

Wood Siding

Wood siding is long lasting when properly maintained, and from the right suppliers it’s a plentiful, renewable raw material. If you’re thinking about wood siding for your home, you’ll want to make sure that it’s certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC). FSC certified wood is harvested by socially and ecologically responsible companies that work to give back as much as they take.

On the down side, wood siding eventually rots and needs to be painted every few years.

Engineered Wood

Engineered wood is manufactured by pressing wood fibers together with waxes and resins. It’s long-lasting, affordable, and bio-degrades nearly as quickly as natural wood. Some engineered woods are manufactured with formaldehyde, but you can avoid that pitfall by simply selecting a formaldehyde-free variety.

Engineered wood looks great and lasts a very long time. It’s best in dry climates where it won’t warp and swell.

Metal Siding

Metal siding will easily last a lifetime and is virtually maintenance-free. It can sustain all kinds of temperatures and inclement weather, and shakes off extreme humidity and aridity like nobody’s business. 

Unfortunately, metal siding is considered a high embodied energy product. That means that its manufacture, marketing and disposal consume a questionably high amount of resources. Metal siding types should only be used as a long-term siding solution that really justifies their costs.

Fiber Cement

Fiber cement siding is very long lasting, demands little or no regular maintenance, and can be surprisingly affordable. It’s lightweight, easy to install and easy to transport. But be cautious. While some fiber cement products are made with a high volume of recycled materials, they sometimes contain epoxy as well, which does not bio-degrade.

Eco-Friendly Stucco

Most stucco is made with cement and epoxy, but some eco-friendly stucco can be found that uses earth and lime mixtures instead. Eco-friendly stucco sports a basic, no frills look and feel, and is both affordable and long-lasting. Keep in mind that any stucco will probably need repainting every couple of years.

Eco-friendly siding is a win-win for all. Find out what new siding would cost for your own home by clicking here.

Photos by Truwood Siding

Trad дом от Meredith и Lonny: Новая кассета цифров

Posted: 18 Apr 2011 09:38 AM PDT

It's great to see new ventures in shelter publishing and when established print publisher Meredith announced they were joining up with digital magazine Lonny to create Trad Home, the design world took notice.

After two splashy launch parties in NYC and LA that were attended by a who's who of the design, publishing and blog world, the table was set for a groundbreaking venture between two successful media entities that both excel at what they do.

Traditional Home launched in 1989 and is a stalwart of shelter magazines. It's target has always been a more affluent reader with classic taste.

Lonny Magazine arrived on the scene a couple years ago and was born from the demise of popular Domino magazine. The editors wanted to create a traditional magazine experience online without all the trappings of a typical blog or website. They've succeeded by curating sharp articles with beautiful photography.

Типичный направляющий выступ фонарика патио

Posted: 18 Apr 2011 09:00 AM PDT

During the upcoming warmer weather (any day now!), the sprucing up of your outdoor living space is a perfect place to start. To get the effect you want when you’re planning that outdoor get-together, or the creation of an oasis of calm in your own backyard, is to think about the right lighting.

We’ve already offered you some outdoor lighting tips on this humble blog of ours. But, we’d like to bore down deeper, and put the, um, spotlight on a specific type of outdoor lighting that has served homeowners through various eras: the patio lantern.

Patio lanterns can take many forms and be incorporated into all kinds of outdoor living designs and styles, adding subtlety, and quiet charm. Further to that, patio lanterns can be incorporated into your green lifestyle, many of them charging on solar energy during the day so that they can light up your life at night! The right lighting can bring other outdoor living elements to life, from the comfort of your patio furniture, to the subtle textures of your stone pavers or wood deck. You can literally look at your outdoor living space in a whole new light.

Take a look at this ultimate patio lantern guide, to see which style suits your idea of enjoyable and stylish outdoor living.

Me? I love those floating lanterns, myself!

Cheers!
Rob.

Would you like to embed this graphic to your own website? Easy! Just copy the code below, and paste it in when creating your post.

The Ultimate Patio Lantern Guide is a post from: BuildDirect. We cover a variety of home improvement products including laminate flooring, hardwood floors, bamboo flooring, tile, decking and more. We also offer a wide range of info on interior design, housing trends, home how to, green building and living, and more.

Related posts:

  1. 5 Outdoor Lighting Tips to Light Up An Outdoor Living Space
  2. It’s A Beautiful Day…For Your Patio
  3. Lighting Style Guide: Lighting In Your Bathroom
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