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How to Pick a Patio Umbrella That Performs

August 6, 2012 By Leave a Comment

patio-umbrellaLooking for just the right amount of shade, sturdiness and weather resistance? We’ve got you covered

When midsummer heat waves hit, even some sun worshippers begin begging for shade. Instead of forcing family dinners and lazy afternoons indoors, outfit your garden, deck or patio with an umbrella. This everyday item can make all the difference when it comes to a comfortable outdoor space.
With these professional tips on choosing an outdoor umbrella, relief from the heat is on the way!

Filed Under: Blog, Furniture, Home Care

Feast your eyes on the Dark Knight home theater

August 6, 2012 By Leave a Comment

batman-theaterRecent events may leave you a bit hesitant about joining the crowds at the multiplex, and while some of us will just sit and wait for films to be available via Redbox or Netflix, others will be building their own Dark Knight theater.

This $2 million home theater is set to be completed by November of this year, so there won’t be any first runs of the final Dark Knight movie happening here, but every other new release enjoyed in this awe-inspiring home renovation project will definitely be an adventure.

batman-theater2

According to Nandini Maheshwari at BornRich:

The highlights include 180” film screen with Batsuits on each side, besides the backlit life-size Batsuit standing across the room. There are a total of six Batsuits placed throughout the room. The other details include winged gargoyles, private cylindrical stainless steel elevator with glowing bat symbol, mock secret tunnel exit, bat computers, and race-car inspired home theater chairs to be in tune with the luxurious Batmobile vehicles. The Exit gate is designed to look like a secret tunnel approximately 30 feet long.

Did the real Batcave even cost that much?

For that kind of dough, we’d want Robin thrown in with the theater to bring us popcorn refills during the good parts.

Full story at Elite Home Theater Seating via BornRich.

Filed Under: Appliances, Architecture, Blog, Technology Tagged With: , ,

10 Ways to Boost Your Home’s Resale Value

August 6, 2012 By Leave a Comment

remodelFigure out which renovations will pay off, and you’ll have more money in your pocket when that ‘Sold’ sign is hung

With real estate prices not what they once were, to put it mildly, it’s only natural for homeowners preparing to sell to be thinking of ways to up their home’s value. But it simply doesn’t make sense to throw money into a big remodeling project that won’t end up netting a higher sale price in the end. What’s a homeowner to do?

Learn what buyers want, then start early (so you can enjoy your hard work before you sell) and small (to avoid excessive spending) for the best possible results. These 10 home improvement projects make smart use of your time and resources.

Filed Under: Appliances, Architecture, Blog, Home Care, Home Remodel

Suburban planning [comic]

August 6, 2012 By Leave a Comment

There’s much to be said for the suburbs, but for all their good points, there’s plenty of snark to be thrown into the conversation as well (especially from recent escapees or those longing for bright lights or wide open spaces).

Cartoonist Grant Snider takes an amusing look at his own environs and sees what the planners likely didn’t intend.

Full story at Incidental Comics.

Filed Under: Blog

What Would You Do With an Extra Room?

August 5, 2012 By Leave a Comment

home_theaterLet’s pretend for a minute. Say you have an extra room in your house and you can do anything with it. Pretend you don’t need the space for that extra kid or that collection of merry-go-round horses. It’s just extra and you can do anything with it.

It could be your salsa dancing room or your indoor basketball court. Maybe it’s a meditation room, a home gym or a family room.

The truth is, we could all use an extra room. Once we’re all housed and the kitchen, bathrooms and common rooms are taken care of, there seems to always be a need for just a little extra space. A fantasy room.

I’m trying to chose between a cozy, comfy library and a playroom for the kids. Not that there’s any hurry for my decision.

Filed Under: Appliances, Architecture, Blog, Furniture, Home Remodel, Technology

2200 Musicians Share What They Think Of Facebook Timeline

August 5, 2012 By Leave a Comment

facebook_musiciansWhen Facebook switched all Pages to the Timeline layout, they removed the option to set apps as default landing pages. We wondered how musicians – many of whom were using apps like ReverbNation‘s Band Profile – felt about the change and how it impacted the things they cared most about. Namely fan engagement, music sharing, show attendance and "likes." So ReverbNation surveyed over 2200 of their users and asked them their opinions, twice: 30 days after the change and again at the 90 day mark. The following infographic shows the results:

musicians facebook

source: VIA

Filed Under: Blog, Music, New Media, Technology Tagged With:

Sleeker Inflatable Solution Reinvents Basic Walk-In Bathtub

August 4, 2012 By Leave a Comment

sleek-tubDesigners have a difficult time making walk-in tubs look anything but, well, ugly. There are a lot of requirements (like size) that lead to a default solution that seems clunky in an otherwise-nice bathroom space.

 

This solution by Su Pin Chia works around these issues in a few interesting ways. First, its strong horizontals and divided sections break up the monotony of the megalithic form. Second, when not in use, it is simply much smaller since the sides can remain down rather than up. Finally, the use of two materials – one hard, one soft – make it seem more like two elements than one.

So how does it work? Instead of folding up, it fills up – the sides are inflatable via the water-propelled jacuzzi mechanism already built in. Whether it would work in reality is a good question, but the concept is quite cool regardless.

Filed Under: Appliances, Blog Tagged With:

Decorating Your Home with Augmented Reality

August 4, 2012 By Leave a Comment

Science fiction is becoming more reality than fantasy. One of the most interesting ways this is happening is through a technology called augmented reality. You may have seen it before, but if not what it basically does is modify your view of reality by adding an additional layer of information when viewing through a device.

Most uses of augmented reality deal with location based information, but I think there’s a ton of opportunities for bringing augmented reality inside your home. Specifically to help with home improvement or decorating projects. Below are some incredible examples of how this can work. One is available today while the last two are just concepts for now.

Take a look for yourself and I guarantee you’ll be amazed.

Ikea Augmented Reality Room App
I could really use this. After having rearranged furniture in my family room a few dozen times, it would have been great to just let my wife virtually arrange the room using digital version of the furniture all in real time. The following is a concept video put together by a Graphic and Digital Design student at the University of Greenwich, but I’m not sure why Ikea hasn’t made this a reality yet. Maybe they’re working on it. Take a look for yourself.

A Home Depot Room Makeover App
Most homeowners at one time or another have thought a certain type of carpet, cabinet or hardwood floor would look great in a room until they actually install it. Then comes the rude awakening that it didn’t look as good as you thought. Well this video I found on YouTube could help change all that. Using augmented reality, homeowners could test out how various home improvement products in the Home Depot catalog would look inside the actual room of your home before you go through the hassle of renovating. Incredible.

Augmented Reality is still very much in its infancy, but we’re pretty sure it will play a role both in and out of your home into the future. What augmented reality concept would you most like to use in your home?

Filed Under: Appliances, Architecture, Blog, Furniture, Home Remodel Tagged With: ,

Open Wide! Attic Windows Create Unique Indoor Outdoor Space

August 4, 2012 By Leave a Comment

skylight-balconiesAttic or loft living can be great for a lot of reasons, but it can also come with a unique set of problems. The most significant of these is the quality of air to be found in the top level of a building. Even with air conditioning or open windows, the orientation of the living space on the top floor of the building leads to hot, stuffy air.

The balcony windows from Fakro are a perfect way to solve this problem. They are designed for installation in attics with pitched roofs to add a bit of outdoor space and much-needed air flow to the upstairs rooms.

When closed, the windows look like any other skylight windows. They open in two pieces: the top sash lifts up and the bottom sash moves up and outward, creating a kind of enclosure. The bottom sash conceals a hidden safety rail that pops into place when the windows are fully opened, making the balcony feel safe.

The windows, when fully opened, add a sense of space to an upstairs domicile. Although they do not create a space for one to walk on and place flowerpots or other outdoor decorations, they do provide a small space for residents to stand, breathe in the outdoors and feel close to nature.

Filed Under: Architecture, Blog Tagged With: ,
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