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Archive for June, 2010
Fashion inspires sleek, colorful kitchen design
01 year ago
by admin
in Kitchen Products
From the runway to the kitchen: Many houseware and kitchen design companies are looking to the world of fashion for hints and clues to inspire their lines.
“What we’ve generally found, if something is hot in the runways in fall it’s going to take hold and move into the home a few months later,” says Kristin Martin, brand manager for cast iron cookware at the cookware maker Le Creuset.
Le Creuset is just one example of a houseware or kitchen design company that gets design ideas from runway shows and fashion magazines. For example, Martin says, last fall Le Creuset designers noticed an eggplant purple color “all over the runway. ”
This March, the company launched its new color: a purple called cassis.
“It definitely influenced our decision because it was a color people were excited about,” Martin says.
“Because people were excited about it in terms of fashion, they were going to be excited about it in terms of their homes. ”
Cookware, she says, is “not just a tool, it’s a statement. And that’s the same thing with fashion — you are making a statement when you wear it. ”
The subject intrigued the folks at faucet maker Brizo, which sponsored a panel discussion about kitchen fashion, form and function at the recent Kitchen and Bath Industry Show in Chicago. Brizo also sponsors New York fashion designer Jason Wu, who made first lady Michelle Obama’s inaugural gown.
“It seems all of us, although in different areas of design, look to each other for inspiration,” says Wu, who spoke on the Chicago panel.
Judd Lord, Brizo’s director of industrial design, says the company looks to fashion mainly for shape, form and pattern ideas.
“How it’s flowing, what the form it’s taking as it’s coming down the runway, where the belt line is being placed or the sleeves,” Lord says. “It’s things like that that will draw a designer’s eye. ”
At the luxury Enamel Cookware appliance maker Thermador, whose ranges, refrigerators and dishwashers shine in stainless steel, designers look to fashion accessories such as watches and jewelry for trends, says company industrial design manager Graham Sadtler.
“Whether it’s a gloss metal finish or matte or a certain treatment on the metal, (that) is one of the biggest things we look at that influences our design,” he says.
Kitchen designer Cheryl Kees Clendenon of Pensacola, Fla. , says she turns to fashion magazines for inspiration and rips out pages when she finds
striking textures or materials.
“It regenerates my enthusiasm for what I do,” says Clendenon, who has been a kitchen designer for 11 years and also was on Brizo’s panel. “I can look through fashion magazines and even though I can’t personally wear those clothes, it’s the idea part of it. ”
Clendenon adds fashion to her designs in small ways, through layers, kitchen rugs or a backsplash, for instance. That keeps a kitchen from looking or feeling dated, she says.
“What we design needs to live for a while,” she says. “You can’t change your kitchen design as often as you can your clothing. ”
Wu says he loves to cook and finds a sense of design in the way meals are plated. His own kitchen has an open design, gray palette and island cabinet.
“I think everything I do is a piece of me and what I’m about,” Wu said. “I think the kitchen is no different. ”
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01 year ago
by admin
in Heating and Cooling
How range works
Gas ranges basically take natural gas or propane and turn it into concentrated heat that you can use for cooking and baking. There are burners on the cooktop and one or two burners in the oven which burn gas that has been ignited by a pilot, spark ignitor, or glow ignitor.
On the cooktop you usually have 4 to 6 burners with grates over them that allow you to cook in pots and pans. Gas flows from the main gas valve to a manifold that has a corresponding number of burner valves. The gas is brought from the burner valve to the burner through a venturi tube. The burner control knobs that you see on the control panel attach directly to the burner valve. This valve controls how much gas is sent to the burner. To get a larger flame, you send more gas to the burner. The venturi tube between the burner valve and the burner allows the gas to properly mix with air for clean combustion. The air and gas mix then flows into the burner where the pilot flame or ignitor ignites it. On models with a spark ignition, there is usually a spark switch attached to the burner valve, a spark module and the spark ignitor. When you turn the valve, the switch tells the spark module to send electricity to the spark ignitor to create the spark to ignite the gas. Almost all older cooktops with unsealed burner units allow you to raise the entire top for cleaning and service.
In order to control how close your food is to the flame, there is at least one adjustable rack in the oven. In the oven, there is at least one burner on the bottom. If there is a broiler below the oven, this is the only burner in the oven. If you have a utility drawer or nothing below the oven, there is probably a second burner on the top of the oven that is used during broiling. The burner is a tubular device through which the gas flows before it’s ignited. It has a lot of little holes on its sides that lets the gas burn and provide heat evenly throughout the oven. The gas gets to the oven burners through a safety valve. The gas safety valve does precisely what the name implies. It prevents gas from being introduced to the burner when there’s a possibility that it won’t get ignited properly. There are a few different variations in their operation, but the purpose is always the same, to prevent accidents, and allow gas to get to the burner when it is safe.
In order for the gas in the oven to burn it needs to be ignited. The most common ignition systems in use currently are the spark ignition and glow-bar ignition systems. Pilot flame systems tend to have hard to find parts.
Many ovens use the glow-bar ignition system to light the oven or broiler. During normal operation, the glow-bar will glow yellow-hot. A weak or faulty ignitor may still glow, but only glows red through orange. Replace a faulty ignitor. Some glow-bar systems have a fuse in the system, under the cooktop or in the console itself. Check for continuity in these systems.
Spark ignition systems use a spark module to generate a high-voltage spark which is used to ignite a pilot light. This module is used for the burners on the stove as well as the burner in the oven. As the pilot light heats a capillary tubes’ bulb liquid, it expands and puts pressure on a diaphragm. The diaphragm then opens the gas safety valve, releasing gas to the burner. This gas then gets ignited by the pilot light flame.
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Pilot ignition systems in the oven use a flame sensor to determine whether or not the pilot is lit. This sensor sits in the middle of the pilot flame. The position of the sensor is very important. The pilot flame has two parts to it, the outer yellow flame, and the inner blue flame. The sensor needs to be in the hottest part of the pilot flame, located right at the tip of the blue flame to operate properly. If the sensor detects that the pilot is lit, only then will it allow the gas safety valve to open and let gas flow to the burner.
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A New Look for Fireplaces
01 year ago
by admin
in Heating and Cooling
Fireplaces conjure up images of romance, white Christmases, roasting chestnuts and glorious warm memories. Nothing compares to the warmth, both physical and emotional, that a fireplace exudes. When house hunting, most home buyers are often swayed to purchase a property due to the presence of a fireplace.
If you already own a home but don’t have a fireplace, alternatives to building a wood-burning fireplace exist. Renovating your home to add a chimney and wood fireplace to your current home is a process that can be expensive, costing well over $6000. This doesn’t fit in many fireplace lovers budgets. If you already have a fireplace but do not want the bother of hauling wood, keeping the fire stoked, chimney maintenance associated with wood burning, there are ways to still maximize your fireplace for ambiance and heating.
Install a gas fireplace. A gas fireplace burns clean and can be lit with a touch of a button. The flames flicker behind a glass and you have a fire blazing away in the old wood-burning fireplace. The gas fireplace burns without the mess of hauling the firewood indoors, without the worry’s associated with wood burning; chimney soot, smoke damage. A gas fire doesn’t need the constant attention of being stoked, leaving the homeowner to other activities. Gas fireplace also add ambience it brings into your home. Gas fireplaces also protect your indoor furniture from the particulates associated with smoke wood burning.
Invest in an Electric Fireplace. If you don’t have an existing fireplace, consider one. Electric fireplaces require no masonry work, no venting. An electric fireplace has logs that glow and flames that are simulated to flicker as well as a heating unit that disperses heat by the use of an internal fan. The fireplace can be used for only the aesthetic value or for aesthetic and heating. They are portable and can be placed anywhere in the house. They are affordable and add to a room’s ambience.
Electric fireplaces are considered a part of your indoor furniture. When you sell your house your electric fireplace can move with you to your new home. They can have a minimal heating capacity and do not smoke which will keep your indoor furniture free from duct particles. Electric fireplaces are suitable for smaller homes and rooms like an apartment room.
There are many different types and styles of electric fireplaces to choose from. Some are inserts that can be inserted into your already existing fireplace. You can also find some that are free standing and designed to look like wood stoves. Some are three sides and can fit snuggly into a room corner. The variety of styles and models available allows you find a unit that matches your indoor furniture décor. With an affordable price tag of under $1000, electric fireplaces are an affordable addition to your indoor furniture.
With the rising cost of fuel oil, home owners are looking for alternative heat sources. A heat source that is also aesthetic, pleasing, and matches with your indoor furniture is an added bonus.
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Having a Custom Closet Installed
01 year ago
As the owner of Kitchen Bath & Glass Center in Brevard County, Florida, Chris Fuller has more than 20 years of experience running the full-service company, which handles both residential and commercial construction projects. Here, Fuller tells us what a custom closet is and what you could benefit from having one installed.
There are many types of closet systems that people consider to be custom; therefore, it is difficult to pinpoint the exact definition of a custom system. Here at our company, we have two levels of custom-designed systems that you can choose from.
Two Types of Custom Designs
The first choice is a custom design that you can create in your closet using modular pieces that come in preset sizes. The sizes of these pieces range, for example, from 18-, 24-, 30-, to 36-inch widths. And as long as your closet fits one of those specific widths, then that is a custom modular system that will probably work really well within your home.
In addition, we also offer you the choice of another type of custom closet, where we will actually cut the shelves and drawers to the specific width that you want. So the shelves will be the perfect width or dimension to fit the closet we are working with. For example, if you need 22. 5-inch wide shelves, then the second option might be better for your specific closet, since it will create a more snug fit overall.
Ideal Custom Closet
Ideally, a custom closet design will be something that is made to accommodate the things that you already have in your closet, as opposed to a pre-made closet where you are trying to stuff the things you own into it.
At my company, we do a lot more than just measure shelving space when we go in to do a custom closet for you. We will measure not only how many feet of short hanging clothes you have but also how many feet of long hanging clothes you have. We will even take stock of how many shoes you have. So with all that information, we can create a design that uniquely fits the clothes that you already own.
Pre-Designed Modular Units
There are also pre-designed modular units that people can buy at the store. A lot of people consider those to be custom closet kits, because you can mix and match the various pieces you buy at the store and assemble them in whichever way you want. All the pieces fit whichever way you put them together, so those closets are custom in that regard.
On the other hand, those modular units are usually not made out of as high-quality materials as what you can get from a company like our own. Beyond that, there is nobody there to help should a problem arise or if a piece does not fit. But if you go with a company, the professional will install the closet completely and fix anything if it does not look perfect.
Customizing your closet is actually a great way to help you stay more organized. Whichever option you choose, what matters most is that the system is designed to work with what you have and help facilitate your lifestyle better.
Chris Fuller is a writer for Yodle, a business directory and online advertising company. Find a contractor or more contractor articles at Yodle Consumer Guide.
Personalized Storage Boxes
01 year ago
There are several tempting ways to personalize the storage boxes printing as per your needs and requirements. Following are a few creative ideas for providing you a better guide line:The Convenient Photo BoxFor creating a box that could be recognized at a very first glance that what it holds. You can have a photo of your son/daughter and make it printed over the lid of and on the sides of the storage box and make it use for storing their toys so that to make the search convenient at the time of need. Apart from this, you can also take images of toys and make them print over the storage box which would make it a decorative item for the room of your child along with being a neat storage for all your child’s playing stuff. Encourage your child to develop a habit of keeping their room neat and tidy by putting all the toys in that storage box once they are finished with their play time. Choosing an Image to put over the Storage BoxYou can place any kind of image over a storage box not particularly a picture of a person or a place. If you need a storage box for storing your art and craft stuff, you can put on certain motifs over the box so that it gives an impression of what it contains in it. You can also have a montage of photographs and make it printed over the storage box. If you want to have a save and secure yet elegant and tempting storage place for keeping your wedding items, create a montage of your wedding photographs and make it custom sticker printing onto a photo box and use this attractive storage box for storing your wedding items. Personalized Photo Box OptionsSingle image of size between A3, A4, or A5 size is printed across the lid and the sides of the storage box. The storage boxes of thickness 3mm is printed and later sent to your location so you don’t even have to put them together when they arrive at your location. The inner side of these boxes is lined with a suede material. This material comes in four different colors. Another option could be using a landscape or portrait images over the box for fitting the dimensions of the box itself as well as to determine what the box actually posses. You can also add a personal note over the lid of the box in order to determine what is inside the box.
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Custom Designed Closets
61 year ago
Visit our site www. closets-doors. com To celebrate the grand opening of our newest branch in San Francisco, Closets Doors and Beyond would like to announce a limited time only sale beginning April 2010, of up to 50% OFF on all doors. The Customer Service Plus team at Closets Doors and Beyond is dedicated to helping Architects, Contractors, Decorators, and of course ordinary home owners achieve their dreams of a custom designed closet. We take pride in our exceptional customer service team and we are also very proud to announce that you will find our products to be priced at affordable prices for everyone. All of our closets are built using only the safest and highest quality products available on the market today so that your home remains safe and hazard free. We have one of the very few in-house inspection teams available to us and also an exceptional assembly team. Both are responsible for all of our products and quality control inspections. Our designs are created to be high quality and are beautiful with extreme functionality, you will also be very to know that we extend full warrantee on all of our products with immediate replacement of defective parts. To accommodate the unique tastes of all of our clients we have made available Modern, Traditional, European and Contemporary design styles. Our products are built only with the strongest woods and the sturdiest tracks. Be sure that your doors and drawers will continue to run as smoothly as when we installed them first . . .
General Shelters & Campbell Portable Buildings
01 year ago
Based in Texas with 35 years experience in steel & portable buildings. Our team can build your basic storage to custom order!
Toy Story 3: The Video Game – Walkthrough (X360)
01 year ago
Toy Story 3: The Video Game – Walkthrough (X360)
Toy Story 3: The Video Game (PS3) Toy Story 3
Read more on IGN FAQs
Bottom Freezer Refrigerators
11 year ago
www. buyundercounterrefrigerators. com – Get o find out how easy it is to get a bottom freezer install in your kitchen
2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee
01 year ago
2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee
The Basics: The 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee might be the best thing to emerge from the wreckage of the old DaimlerChrysler. When the companies divorced in 2007, Chrysler got custody of some of the pieces it needed to build a new sport-utility vehicle. It’s the best Grand Cherokee yet—so much for broken homes. Fundamentally, you wouldn’t recognize the…
Read more on The Car Connection
