Dressing Your Home

Utilizing mirrors for your home

admin — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 12:42:20 +0000

For any home, getting mirrors would be the primary concern, as it really enhances stuffy and look of the home. You can get mirrors online, and you’ll be fascinated with the amount of different ranges of mirrors that you find in the online stores of different manufacturers.

There are a lot of people who procure mirrors online, and they find that getting such a wonderful thing from the Internet can actually save them a lot of money in terms of transportation, as well as having to spend a lot of time on figuring out which would be the best mirror for their home or for office needs. Read more…

Space Saver: 5 Ways to Use a Flower Bucket

Declan Pottinger — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 05:34:38 +0000

When it comes to saving space, storage solutions should be like a super model, tall and lean. Why? Tall and lean storage solutions have small footprints, using very little precious floor space, and being tall, they use vertical space, which is always a good strategy anytime you need space efficiency. Enter flower buckets, tall, lean, and ready to do many jobs around your home.

In addition to being eco-friendly, a flower bucket’s steel construction is durable, long lasting and waterproof, making it useful both indoors and out.

Tip: French flower buckets generally come in three sizes. Use the tallest one for maximum benefit.

Here are five ways to use it around your home or work space.

1. Umbrella stand for the entryway, mudroom, back door or porch: It’s waterproof! No more rain mess.
2. Trash bin for the office or bedroom: Tall and lean, it’ll tuck right into a corner or under a table.
3. Large compost bin in the kitchen, balcony/patio, or backdoor: Just use extra long barbeque tongs to toss contents about.

New Seedstarter Put to the Test

Matthew Kirkhope — Sun, 12 Feb 2012 06:43:16 +0000

Jen Osha Buysse, one of our product testers.

The culmination of four years of research and testing, our new system represents a breakthrough in seedstarting. The new planting tray is made from a cornstarch-based material that offers the sturdiness of plastic yet breaks down in a landfill. What’s more, the reservoir is dishwasher-safe and the capillary mat can be tossed in the washing machine.

After thorough testing of the Fast Start Seedstarter, we are excited to finally send it out into the world. Because it’s brand new, we are eager to hear what gardeners think. To get things started, we assembled a team of testers from across the nation: Hawaii, Mississippi, South Carolina, Wyoming, Washington DC, Arizona, Massachusetts, and West Virginia. Their response to the Fast Start has been overwhelmingly positive.

Jen Osha and Nick Buysse, our testers from West Virginia, wrote, “our Green Magic Broccoli have already sprouted!

How To Use Iris in the Landscape

Declan Pottinger — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 05:58:16 +0000

Home ownership has bred hundreds of thousands of potential gardeners some with a natural enthusiasm and others with merely the desire to plant something which will add to the general attractiveness of the house.

Since the average home plot is rather small. Novice gardeners have the problem of purchasing plant material which will create the maximum effect.

When it collies to flowers, none can more adequately fill this need than tall bearded iris. Only a few clumps, strategically placed, are required to put on a show in a small garden in late May and early June.

It is not without reason that tall bearded iris have been called the poor mans orchid. for the exquisite beauty and airy grace, and even form, bear a strong resemblance to the orchid.

Now THAT’S a Pink Kitchen

Gabriel Hanslow — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 06:57:29 +0000

I have nothing against pink. Really, I don’t. But–you knew that was coming, didn’t you?–when I saw this pink kitchen in a custom millwork’s gallery recently, I let loose a ‘whoa’. It wasn’t for the color itself but for the extent of its use. Refrigerator panel, backsplash and walls? What do you think? Is it pretty in pink or positively Pepto?

Fragrant Container Plants

Matthew Kirkhope — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 07:48:35 +0000

Fragrant container plants offer more than just the way they look. Fragrance can be a potent pleasure giver right on your deck in a container. Here are some plants that can be containerized and produce delightful fragrances. Citrus trees, English lavender, Freesia, hyacinth, juniper, lily, lily of the valley, narcissus, night jassamine, peony, rose, sweet alyssum. sweet pea, and winter daphne.

Capay Valley farmers at crossroads in ‘Last Crop’

Declan Pottinger — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 05:20:29 +0000

Follow Capay Valley farmers Annie and Jeff Main as they struggle to preserve Good Humus Produce, their small organic farm, in the documentary “The Last Crop.” The film will be screened from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Wednesday at the San Francisco School of Digital Filmmaking, in The Chronicle building at 925 Mission St.

Produced and directed by Chuck Schultz, the film explores the challenges facing family farms today and what the Mains are doing to preserve their land. Like other farming communities across the nation, Central California’s farmers are aging out and cashing in, placing the future of family farms such as the Mains’ at a crossroads. None of the Mains’ three children are interested in taking over the farm.

After the film, there will be a panel discussion with Annie and Jeff Main, Schultz, and Molly Bloom, California FarmLink’s North Coast regional coordinator. Serena Unger, senior policy consultant for American Farmland Trust, will moderate.

Understanding Geothermal Heating

Matthew Kirkhope — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 07:28:33 +0000

For nearly two decades now, geothermal heating is one technology that has been begging for acceptance from the general public. Presently, little glimmers of hope are beginning to appear at the end of the tunnel for developers of this unique technology. This however is a result of change in attitudes and improvement in technologies. This does not mean that a lot of sales are being recorded as far as geothermal systems are concerned; it is just that there has been an increase in the number of people taking notice and actually making purchases of the system. This means that gradually, geothermal is gaining recognition and acceptance. Geothermal heat pumps, also called ground-source pumps were actually invented in the 1940s. They were designed to make use of the earth’s constant temperature as exchange medium instead of making use of the outside air temperature. This is why geothermal heat pumps maintain 300% to 600% efficiencies on very cold nights unlike the air-source heating systems that do not exceed 175% to 250% efficiency. Yo

Dreamcatcher Alarm Clock Uses Water To Tell Time

Gabriel Hanslow — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 16:52:29 +0000

Designer Vera Wiedermanns Dreamtime alarm clock is a beautiful and simplistic device that offers an alternative way to be woken up. Instead of a loud and annoying beeping the copper mobile that hangs down from the ceiling lets a hammer fall and strike it when it is time for you to get out of bed.

The alarm clock is powered by water which slowly drips from one container into the bowl beneath it as the hours pass by. Once it is empty and the bowl is full the hammer is released to make a loud but tuneful sound.

By filling the alarm clock with water we focus our attention on the duration of sleep. The task itself becomes a ritual which positively influences our rest. As opposed to the incessant ticking sound of a regular clock here time passes silently and purely mechanically. As the drops of water fall the glass bowl becomes lighter and finally lets the hammer fall. As the tone bounces between the singing bowls we are gently awakened and a new day begins.

No-Nonsense Minimalism: Plywood Slot-Work Furniture Set

Declan Pottinger — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 04:26:17 +0000

Sometimes design errs on the side of art, and sometimes it trends toward engineering this is definitely in the latter category.

Per The Turner Collective: Series 1A is a collection of minimalist objects, balancing objectivity, schematic clarity and inner logic, leading to a natural functionalism and geometric simplicity.

Landscape Planning: How To Add An In-Ground Water Feature

Gabriel Hanslow — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 16:25:26 +0000

In the wintertime, thinking about your backyard can be the last thing on your mind. Yet, its at the beginning of the year that youre planning out your home improvement budgets, which just as often include adding value to your landscaping plan. One way to spruce up your backyard spaces is by adding an in-ground water feature, or even a pond with live fish.

But, where do you get started on a project like that? Landscaping, and pond installation expert Gareth Goddard is ready to explain some of the basic principles of incorporating an in-ground water feature to your outdoor spaces.

A-America promotes Dean Banks to senior VP

Declan Pottinger — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 21:11:35 +0000

Dean Banks

TUKWILA, Wash. — Solid wood dining and bedroom supplier A-America has promoted Dean Banks to senior vice president of sales, marketing and merchandising.

Banks will be responsible for developing and implementing sales, branding, messaging and product development efforts. He reports to Fred Rohrbach, president and co-founder of A-America.

“In this difficult retail environment, it is necessary to be in tune with what our customers want. This move is a means to gain greater control over product development with the end result being more responsive to the end user – the consumer,” Rohrbach said in a press release.

Banks joined the company in 2005 as vice president of sales and marketing. Previously, he worked in grocery industry sales and distribution.

This year, I resolve …

Matthew Kirkhope — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 00:43:07 +0000

Start exercising, lose weight, clean the closets …. Why do most New Year’s resolutions focus on things you should do, and not things you want to do? Instead, we decided to come up with some garden resolutions that you’ll want to keep!

Start exercising, lose weight, clean the closets …. Why do most New Year’s resolutions focus on things you should do, and not things you want to do? Instead, we decided to come up with some garden resolutions that you’ll want to keep! What follows is our list of ten. What are your resolutions? Share them in the comments at the end of the post.

1. Spend more time in the garden Whether you’re busy tending plants or kicking back and relaxing, time spent in the garden brings its own joys and rewards. This year, resolve to spend a few minutes in the garden every day, pulling a few weeds or simply enjoying the beauty and wonder around you.

Learn more about how we plan to reach these goals in the article, New Year’s Resolutions Youll Want to Keep! Read more…

What roses will work well in a container?

Matthew Kirkhope — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 15:50:21 +0000

The best roses for containers have smallish leaves and flowers, as well as a compact growth habit. The following varieties adapt well to pots. Use a 2 gallon pot for these roses. Bonica, Cupcake, Heartbreaker, The Fairy. For larger shrub or floribuda roses use a 24 inch pot.