Why is that that those of us who don’t have a fireplace always wish we did, and those of us who do wish we didn’t? Cold weather is quickly approaching, so those of you who do have fireplaces – embrace your fortune and follow the steps after the jump to make the fireplace more efficient to heat your home for winters to come.
Disguised in a familiar looking tissue box, these tissues by Better for GrownUps are actually reusable and are a strong contender in our cloth or paper tissue debate.
We all have at least one or two geekie or tech savvy friends in our life. Make their day with a cool gadget inspired gift made out of reclaimed circuit boards originally designed for computers, televisions, and other electronics.
We love furniture that is multi-functional and space saving. This beautiful wardrobe designed by Rene Siebum not only functions as a light fixture, bookcase, closet and room divider, but with the doors fully extended it actually transforms into an entire room. According to Siebum, “The aim of the space is to create an environment that embraces and allows us to focus and close off.” See a video of the transformation of Second Skin after the jump.
Last week we heard a quick news story on NPR: California is planning the nation’s first ban on large screen televisions to curb energy use. We know that California is typically on the cutting edge of energy regulation, but of all things, limiting the size of TVs is a surprise to us.
Why buy a fancy planter light when you can turn a plant you already own into a lamp? Or how about that cool wine bottle that you’ve been hanging onto? Or maybe a mason jar or a birdhouse? Yes it’s true, craft and hobby supply company, National Artcraft, has kits that can make just about anything into a lamp – for cheap.
Q: I recently purchased a small herb garden - my first! But I'm not sure how to care for it. For basic herbs, how often do I need to water? Should I buy fertilizer? And what brands would you recommend? Is there a trusted website I could buy a relatively small amount online (given that my "garden" is so small)? Or do you have any stores in New York you'd recommend?
Sent by Leslie
These tree stumps are a side table and a light! Made from fallen sycamores and miscellaneous light bulbs these side table lamps are a creative, beautiful and functional.
Name: Nancy
Location: Winnetka, IL
Size: 4000 sq/ft
Years lived in: Owned 6 Months
Nancy’s got a great eye — when she first saw this mid-century gem she knew it had potential. At the time however, it was seriously in need of an upgrade: the interior reeked of early 90’s décor, the structure was thermally deficient and it wasn’t quite large enough for her family of three boys. A couple of years later the house is a shining example of a sustainably swanky renovation.
Just in time for the Fall Cure, Brooklyn-based art center, 3rd Ward, will be hosting a pop-up swap event. On November 21st 3rd Ward will be lending its space to a massive free exchange of anything from clothing, music, art, books and other house supplies. Drop off your stuff and maybe you’ll find something new for yourself, or a gift for the upcoming holidays…
• Cure Clock: 3.5 weeks to go!
• Assignment: Read Week Four, pp. 129-153
• Pare down your book and media collection.
• Declutter your living room.
• When shopping, focus on quality furniture that will last a long time.
• Members: 1,735
For many of us our living room is our foyer, dining room, office and even kitchen – with all that activity going on it can be really hard to keep things clean and clear of clutter. Full disclosure: my house has not always been clutter-free and pared-down, but after nearly a decade of moving every year I looked forward to the purging that came along packing up moving all my possessions to a new home. I started to really hold on to the idea that unless an item was something I really loved or had special meaning to me, it was not worth the effort of moving, keeping and finding room for it in my new place. Once I finally settled down a couple of years ago, my place was broken into – full on ransacked! Much of what my boyfriend and I had decided to keep was gone whether we liked it or not…
Just the other day we were starting to think about winterizing our home for the season, when we got a great tip from one of our favorite home improvement gurus, Lou Manfredini. Lou suggested that as an alternative to covering drafty windows with plastic, caulk them with a temporary and removable sealant such as Zip-A-Way. A removable sealant is a better alternative to unsightly plastic and is great for oversized or irregular windows…
Check out this cook green gadget: the PUYL is a combination bicycle pump and portable light. But the simply clever part is that the light’s battery is charged as you pump…
Ahh, the great diaper debate: cloth or plastic? Ease or ecology? Well, this Slate article compared a 1992 study with a more recent 2005 study to figure out which type of diaper was the most eco-friendly choice. Curious about the results? Click through to read their conclusions...
Young designer Alan YL Chan took on the difficult task of personally renovating his 400 square feet dark, cramped and deteriorating Manhattan apartment – all while living in it and only 3 years out of architecture school. His brilliant renovation was not only achieved through hard work but also with multi-purpose spaces and best of all – a continuous ribbon of concrete that acts as sink, countertop, desk, seat and floor…
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