Should gold make a comeback in the bath?

July 14, 2009

Last week, I wrote about pink bathrooms of the 1950's. This week, I'd like to fast forward about 20 years to the faucets of the disco era. Normally I'm not a gold type of person (all of my jewelry including my engagement ring is silver) but I do like the Vibrante Moderne Gold finish from Kohler. The company describes it as more "honey" colored than the lighter hues of the 1970's and it's a nice change of pace from the cold chrome and nickel that has been so popular in the last decade. The finish is available in brushed and polished options.If you like the finish, learn how to switch out your bathroom faucet. 

Cabinet and drawer decals: Everything but the kitchen sink

July 9, 2009

I'm a visual person. I'm a neat freak. I'm a little obsessive compulsive when it comes to organization. Every item in my apartment—from cups to candles to curling irons—has a specific storage spot. And if anything is out of place, well, let's just say it's not good. Yes, I'll admit, I have a little bit of a problem. So after recent visits from friends and family, and tidying up after them when they left, I've concluded that perhaps the best way to clue my company in as to where such and such items go (you know, without having to say, over and over again, "No, glasses go in the left-hand cabinet.") is to give them visible cues. And thanks to Tasty Suite's line of vinyl Kitchen Icon decals, I no longer need to worry about my guests placing pots where pans should go (and in turn, they don't need to worry about me having a hissy fit).

Save the pink bathrooms!

July 7, 2009

As I was putting together photos and text for our annual Best Bath Before & Afters reader remodels this year, I noticed more than a few before baths in that much-maligned hue pink. Insanely popular in the middle of the last century, these "Mamie Pink" baths are now a dying a breed with modern remodelers actively gutting them without hesitation. Honestly, I have trouble looking at these baths without cringing, but as an old house aficionado, I have to wonder, will we ever look at these relics of the past with nostalgia or even appreciation? After all, there was time when fireplaces and hardwood floors were covered up because they were  considered old fashioned and dated, despite the fact both are now selling points. The Save the Pink Bathrooms blog has taken up this issue, urging people to preserve their pink baths and offering up tips for doing so. What do you think? Are these retro baths worth saving or should they all be left to the sledge hammer?

Barkskin Glass from Caba Company

July 6, 2009

I've been a fan of Caba Company ever since I ran across them a few years ago, while looking for cool wallpaper options. I love how they hand-pound organic tree bark to make these wonderfully textured pieces. Now, they've innovated on their process by adding resin laminated glass to make Barkskin Glass.

Kitchen sink mats: Good clean fun

July 2, 2009

I have a thing for glassware. I have a pretty solid collection of tumblers, goblets, mugs and stemware. They're all different. Some are etched, frosted, clear, glossy white or black. Some are pricey and some not so much. But due to my clumsy nature each glass group is incomplete. They've fallen victim to the kitchen sink.

So rather than continuing on this destructive path I've decided that it's time to invest in a sink mat that will cushion the fall of my precious breakables (and protect my stainless-steel basin from shrapnel-related scratches, too). And lucky for me, and you, these mats are inexpensive and easy on the eye. Here are a few of my favs.

Dry-erase refrigerator: Make your mark

June 25, 2009

Is anyone else’s refrigerator riddled with to-do lists? And do you find that said written reminders tend to wriggle their way out from behind magnets, or loose their stickiness and fall to the floor? Yeah, well, my fridge has too many notes on it to count, and the floor probably has more. It’s a hot mess.

So three cheers for Amana’s new Jot refrigerator, the first dry-erase model in the U.S. that puts organization right at your fingertips by giving you an all over scribbling surface. And as a bonus, Amana is partnering with Crayola to provide dry-erase markers with each Jot. Score! 

Can you really wash your clothes with just one cup of water?

June 23, 2009

Researchers at the University of Leeds and British company Xeros think so. They've teamed up to create a washer that uses less than 10 percent of the water of conventional machines and 30 percent of the energy. How is this possible you ask? After all a cup of water can't even boil spaghetti much less tackle a full load. The new technology uses thousands of tiny beads, reusable up to 100 times, to capture dirt under humid conditions. The machines could be available to commercial customers in Great Britain as early as next year and there are plans to roll them out to homeowners if they are successful. Get more water-saving ideas.

Smart and stylish storage: That's off the chain

June 18, 2009

So what do you do if you have a pedestal sink in your bathroom and nowhere to tuck towels or toiletries? Or if your kitchen is lacking in the cabinet department and you can’t find a place to put dishrags, spices, oils or vino? Well, you could throw a temper tantrum, or you can get yourself the designchain—a nifty, storage problem solver that does double duty as sculptural art.

Want to look good in the morning? Get better bath lighting

June 16, 2009

Have you ever looked in the mirror and wondered who that jaundiced, run-down, bags-under-the-eyes, 10-years-older-than-yesterday person is looking back at you? Sure you could start eating veggies, drink more water and less beer, and get to gym more than twice a year, but why take drastic measures? Instead, let's look at your bath lighting. 

Sweet new range

June 13, 2009

You've seen Big Chill's colorful 50s-style fridges. Well now the company makes a range to match. Choose between eight vibrant hues, including my personal favorite, orange. The 30-inch range reminds me of the classic Chambers cooker, but with newfangled features, such as an infrared broiler. Use it to sear meats and fish, like black-pepper-crusted tuna steaks. Umm. Can you tell it's getting close to my dinner time?

Like most pro-style ranges made by the likes of Wolf and Viking, Big Chill's also carries a hefty price tag at $4,295. If you can stomach that, then put your order in now. The company is taking pre-orders for Augustdeliveries. For more on kitchen appliances click here.