Home Security Systems [infographic]

Imagine a world where every night whenever a family goes to bed, they press a button and 2 ton steel walls close down over their entire house; where everyone has their own personal police officer living in their basement to be sure everything is always alright; and where people are equal, thus, having nothing that others could covet. This world sounds safe, but at a very high and controlling cost.

Now imagine a world where all there is to protect a family is a small steel bar in a wooden door, or a glass window, where the police take at least 15 minutes to respond to a call, and where there are millions of men and women who do not have anything and feel the need to rob for drugs, money or sheer thrill. This world sounds more easy going, but also potentially scary.

It would be agreed that the second scenario is the world today, and everything goes alright, until something goes wrong. Luckily, with home security systems people are able to feel as if they are that much closer to existing in the top scenario. As soon as anything goes wrong in a residence the security alarm goes off, an office is called to immediately phone the police, and the criminal breaking in will generally leave from fear. Any individual who is hoping for steel doors, and in-house policemen should consider this option, because it is one of the safest and most realistic ones available.

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Illegal to sell a new home without a charging station in one city

An article I found on AGBeat caught my attention.

electric-car-chargingThe City Council for Palo Alto, California unanimously adopted a new policy making it illegal to sell a new home without an electric car charging station, betting big on electric vehicles – perhaps as the city is home to luxury electric vehicle maker Tesla?

Read the entire article here.

Remodeling A Kitchen On A Budget

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Update Your Kitchen for Under $100

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If your kitchen could stand for some enhancements, but a full-scale remodel (and its hefty price tag) has you hoping the ‘80s will make a décor comeback, we have some ideas for you.

These five easy-but-impactful tweaks will give your galley an updated feel. No drills (or banks loans) required.

Swap out the knobs.

Are your knobs bringing you down? Very possibly.

Outdated or underwhelming drawer and cabinet knobs often present one of the biggest opportunities for kitchen improvement.

And luckily, it’s an easy fix!

To make a bold statement, look to bright colors, offbeat materials and the animal kingdom for inspiration.

Display like you mean it.

Kitchen clutter is just another term for décor that hasn’t reached its full potential. Really!

Replace brand-laden packaging with classic jars or canisters and arrange with an eye toward balance: store different food types among uniform containers.

Experiment with labeling, if you like, or keep it simple. Either way, this will add major polish on the cheap.

Deck the walls.

Kitchens are mostly about function, but they deserve a little fashion, too!

Hang a small shelf to artfully display cookbooks and quirky knickknacks like vintage scales or Japanese chef figurines.

Have fun with it!

The beauty of the shelf is that it lets you inject character into your kitchen without using up valuable countertop space.

Step up your textiles.

Kitchen towels and mats present an equally simple and fun way to step up your game.

If your kitchen is a little soft spoken, let the fabric do the talking.

There are countless finds out there, including these fantastic state pride towels from Fab.com.

If your kitchen already has a good color scheme going, opt for simpler textiles that complement the space.

Add nature.

Plants are a mindful decorator’s silver bullet.

Not only do they help clean your home’s air, they also add warmth to a room and don’t cost much.

Given your kitchen’s fluctuations in temperature, it’s best to display plants in a windowsill where they can thrive.

Go with a planter’s box or hanging baskets.

Tip:A few species that make good kitchen companions are: Aluminum Plant, Carex, Comb Flower and Desert Privet.

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High-Tech Home That Monitors Itself

Seattle homeNot long ago a friend let us borrow her hybrid car so we could travel from Port Angeles, Washington, to Seattle. The car was amazingly energy efficient. A really cool feature was the dashboard display, which provided constant feedback on energy use and source. For example, when we were waiting at a drawbridge, we could see just when the gas engine provided power and when the car was in battery mode only. And while in motion, the display kept us informed as to how many miles per gallon we were getting. Sure enough, having that instant feedback altered the way I drove, going a little slower and not being, as my wife would say, Speed Racer all the time.

And the car was quite comfortable, even luxurious. It was a larger sedan that I could fit in comfortably, and it had a terrific sound system. Not once did we feel like we were giving up something in the name of efficiency. Which brings up the question: If we can build cars like this, why can’t we do the same for houses?

Well, the good news is we can. Here’s just one example: a home designed by Lake/Flato Architects, where some wonderful architecture is combined with energy efficiency for a truly special home.

Kitchen ideas, bathroom ideas, and more ∨Home improvement can start with something as minor as installing track lighting or a ceiling fan.
Find shelves, customizable closet organizers and stylish storage furniture to whip your closet into shape.

Smart Kitchen Investment: Lighting for Function and Good Looks, Too

kitchen lightingLighting tends to be one of the most overlooked and under-appreciated aspects of a kitchen during the design process. There is an art to lighting a kitchen, though lighting usually goes unnoticed unless it’s planned poorly. And that isn’t discovered until after the contractor is long gone.

Remember the days when kitchens were lit with a single fixture in the center of the ceiling and maybe some fluorescent accents that would constantly flicker? There’s no excuse for that anymore, thanks to the vast array of lighting options and industry experts available to devise a custom plan for your kitchen.

I spoke with two such experts, interior designer Katie Anderson and lighting designer Randall Whitehead, about the importance of investing time and money into a proper lighting plan, and how to design the best scheme for any kitchen.

Architecture, interior design, and more ∨Hire a decorator to find that just-right sofa and coffee table for your living room.
As you get ready to host an event, be sure you have enough dining chairs and dishes for dinner guests, as well as enough bakeware and cutting boards for food preparation.

A Smart Smoke Detector?

Nest-Learning-Thermostat-iPhone-appNest, the “learning thermostat” maker founded by former Apple’s senior vice president of its iPod division, is reportedly working on a smart smoke detector, according to former Wall Street Journal reporter Jessica Lessin.

Kara Swisher of AllThingsD adds that it will be called Protect, and be part of a series of smart devices, including the original thermostat.

Nest’s thermostat does more than turn your furnace and your air conditioning on and off. Nest’s product learns your schedule – when you’re home, when you’re away, how you like the temperature set when you’re there – and figures out how to set itself. It also takes commands from a smartphone, and connects to the household Wi-Fi. A built-in LCD display shows you temperature and current operations, all built into a rotary interface that’s familiar to most people who have used dial-based thermostats.

Read the rest on iMore

Five Renovations That Add Value to Your Home

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Smart Investments in Kitchen Cabinetry — a Realtor’s Advice

kitchen cabsThe kitchen is the most expensive room in the house to build. The national average cost of a kitchen remodel is $50,000, though the real cost can vary widely, depending on where you live, the scope of the project and the materials you choose. New cabinetry can take up much of that expense. Make the most of this big purchase by treating your new cabinets as an investment.

Architects, interior designers, and more ∨Discover inspring landscaping ideas and find a top local landscape contractor or residential landscape architect to plan your garden landscape.
From wallpapers to wall stencils, fabrics to room dividers, design doesn’t stop at construction.