It plugs into a normal outlet and uses the same power as 4- 100 watt bulbs, heating a room 10′ x 12′. Pretty impressive, and an easy solution if you have a cold spot- kitchen, bath, or your old house anywhere.
Archive for December, 2008
Eco-Heater for your cold spot
Tuesday, December 30th, 2008Decorative skylights- custom glass
Friday, December 12th, 2008Anything from historically correct treatments to custom contemporary artwork for your skylights: http://cbdglass.com/Portfolio/Glass_skylights.html.
I went in to the main site www.cbdglass.com, to get to skylights and it’s worth a look. Lots of custom goodies available.
Corner toilet for tiny bathrooms
Friday, December 12th, 2008Perfect for tucking a powder room under the stairs in your old house, or adding a bath anywhere- Eljer’s Titan Triangle Tank Toilet. http://www.eljer.com/Press%20Releases/TitanTriangle.htm Features a gravity feed flush they say assures a full flush every time.
Quiet, mold-proof drywall for basements
Friday, December 12th, 2008QuietRockDensArmor Plus 528 is the latest “designer” drywall on the market, with no paper skin to feed mold AND noise reduction capabilities. Think basements. Quiet ones. Or iffy exterior walls.
You may want just the sound proofing of Quiet Rock, or just the fire and waterproofing of the DensArmor- but if you need both, it’s available now.
Keeping those light marble tops free of stains
Friday, December 5th, 2008The increasing use of white marble tops for kitchens flies in the face of the fact that marble is porous and will stain; it has traditionally been discouraged for kitchen use. But, it’s so hip and looks so fresh- how great is the risk?
If you’re not cooking much, or are very fastidious- no kids, no big cocktail/dinner parties, no big deal. Otherwise, look out, right? John Holbert, Holbert and Associates Architects ran a test on the honed statuary marble destined for kitchen tops at a fabulous Wicker Park renovation project finishing up now, and found:
Lemon juice, ketchup, and vinegar- the surface was marred due to their acid content, but no staining occured. So, buffing the surface would remove or minimize the damage.
Coffee- that’s a different story; it stained the stone. The difference (besides the color) is that coffee has oil in addition to acids. NOTE that red wine also made a stain, visible after a few days in certain light.
Obviously, wiping up spills ASAP is key. Be especially cautious with coffee and red wine- and, I think, red pasta sauces with meat. The fat and acid combo that tastes great could do a number on your stone.
Butter or other oils on marble are a no-no, period. Ask anyone who mistakenly used plumber’s putty to augment a wax ring on a marble bathroom floor: oil or oil-based products stain marble, making it darker and, well, oily looking.
Keep in mind that the more dark streaks and movement in the slabs you select, the more you can get away with a stain or two. A bit more color in your top and you might be able to relax a bit.
Unique art tile for an outstanding bath or kitchen
Thursday, December 4th, 2008Consider breaking from the usual for your bath or kitchen by incorporating tile designs by Jason Messinger. His colors, textures, and designs will set your project apart- and give you pleasure for years to come: http://jasonmessingerart.com/section/20182.html
Think about using one of his “murals” or series as a focal point over the range, a waterproof piece of art to enjoy in the tub, or using the pieces horizontally with spaces in between, fabulously updating the standard listelli detail.
