Bamboo Fencing

www.calibamboo.com

Ramp SInk

When we get around to remodeling the bathroom, I'd love to do a ramp sink:

Ramp Sink - Long

Nifty wall panels

Inhabit Wall Flats

• Braille
  
• Seesaw
  
• Industry

Mailboxes

Some alternatives:

• Metropolos (brushed or satin stainless) - $120 (Target)
• Metropolos (same as above but elsewhere) - $102
  
• Soho (same as above in colors) - $70 (Target)
• Signo - $228
• Slips - $228
• Windows - $88
• Arcs - $98
• Postino - $88
  
• Kenny - preorder $125
• DaVinci - $425
• Small Collection Box - $105
• Surface Mount Box - $140
  

UPDATE - Went with the Metropolos version from Target. Easy to install, pretty sturdy, although not very waterproof (would help if the mailman would close the lid when it rains). Will have to order a new one, since neighborhood kids kicked it's door in during Mischief Night. Managed to get it open and working/locking again, but it's pretty beat up now...

Neoshed

Awesome sheds, birdfeeders and birdhouses:

http://www.neoshed.com

Wall Hooks

Found a few more cool wall hooks:

• Tree wall racks
• Smool wall hanger
• Coat Check hooks
• HANG hooks
• Bach hooks

Here was the original list:

• Blomus line of wall hooks
• Kartell wall hook
• Harry Allen Hand Hooks (C'mere - Grab - Offer)
• Arne Jacobsen Vola (short - long)
• Suck UK Dart Hooks
• nice stainless options
• Restoration Hardware Spritz hook
• This (albeit pricey) Big Five Coat Hook system
  

UPDATE - Went with the HANG hooks - much larger than I expected, however, the powdercoting on them is pretty bad and is already flaking off. Get what you pay for I guess...

Showerscreens

Framed and frameless:

http://www.regencyscreens.com.au/products/showerscreens/

Our House on "What You Get For The Money" UPDATE

Here is the official listing on HGTV:

What You Get for the Money
Episode HGFTM-504

Compare what kind of house you can get for $400,000 in six markets across the country. First is a visit to a couple in Lynn, Mass., whose stylish loft is an affordable alternative to pricey downtown Boston but still boasts lots of innovative details. Next, an Atlanta couple shows off a craftsman bungalow with a traditional façade that hides a breezy, contemporary interior. Then, a remodeled historic row house with a cozy courtyard provides an urban oasis in Philadelphia's Fishtown neighborhood. Last up is a quick look at spacious lakeside homes in rural Kansas and South Dakota, and a hip, urban bachelor's loft in Minneapolis.

The episode aired April 29th 2007.

It was also shown on Fine Living, but since we don't have that channel, and the website is not as search-friendly, I couldn't find the corresponding episode.

Skylight Shades

Something to consider:

http://www.northsolarscreen.com/html/skylight.shtml

Plantwall

Very interesting idea for "wall covering":

• Plantwall

Our House on "What You Get For The Money"

Cleaning and finishing up small projects on the house culminated in an all-day shoot for "What You Get For The Money" on the HGTV and Fine Living networks.

Kendra spotted the listing on Craigslist, I replied, and we were picked! Thanks to Chandra, who pitched us to the network, Lyn the producer, and Steve the cameraman for a great experience!

More info on the show (airing dates, etc.) to be posted when we find out...

House Photos on Flickr

I've created a set of photos of our house on Flickr:

• HOUSE SET

Outdoor Furniture

Looking for chunky, funky outdoor seating options:

• Mr. Jetty
• Bubble Club
• Gehry seating
• Gioco chair
• Prince AHA stool
• Pankoto stool / bench
  

Solar dehumidifier

SolarVenti

SolarVenti eradicates those symptoms and the running cost is ZERO! Using only the power of the sun it ventilates, warms and dehumidifies holiday cottages, summer houses, static caravans, cellars, attics, boats, houses and kitchen areas.

Garage Door

I'd love to replace our door with one of these:

• Clopay Avante
• Arm-R-Lite Titan
• Arm-R-Lite Electra

Planters

Nice planters:

• kornegaydesign.com

Door Knocker

I most likely won't be going with one of these, but it's nice to know there are some really nice alternatives to the shiny brass Home Depot specials:

• Door Knocker by Reveal Designs - super elegant, mechanical
• Door Knocker by Umbra - the only other well-designed one I've seen

And something similar in nature:

• Doorbells (I like square and round) by Spore - Awesome. Also make the actual bell.

Awesome Sink

This, or something very much like it, will be our new bathroom sink:

Gau Design's Zen Garden Sink

Picture Frames

Some ideas for picture frames:

Trapeze from Umbra - for over the couch

Perfect Picture Wall - for over the bed, or elsewhere

Solar Light Tiles

Much better than the usual garden lights dotting everyone else's walkways...

SolarCap Light Emitting Tiles are complete, self-contained illuminating devices designed to be integrated into a variety of paving or masonry applications. Well suited for exterior use, they can add both day and nighttime color to patios, walkways, and other outdoor surfaces without additional wiring.

Available in six colors and two sizes, the tiles will fit within most regular paving modules. Photovoltaic cells collect and store solar energy (even in the rain), emitting a soft LED glow at night. These integral paving lights seem to be the next generation of the often used, but less-than-radiant solar powered garden lights. Once these tiles begin to dot suburban walkways, hopefully both solar and LED technology will gain a wider acceptance around the home beyond decorative plastic stakes.

How To Choose a Wall Color...

... and not screw it up! Good how-to over at Apartment Therapy.

Garden Tips

Here is a good checklist for things to do this fall for the garden next spring...

Tips on how to save water, save time, save your health, save the environment. And say no to toxic chemicals.

Grapes

Some tips on maintaining the grapevines in our yard:

• PSU Wine Grape Network site


• OSU fact sheet
  
• OSU Small Fruit Pest Management
  
• OSU Controlling Diseases/Insects
  
• OSU Basic Pruning Backyard Grapevines


• Cornell fact sheet

UPDATE: Our backyard grapevines are showing many bunches of developing berries. Hopefully lots of fruit this year. Removing crazy amount of vines this fall (about 95% pruned) paid off!

• More tips

Thinking about solar power, etc...

Great solar estimator, using local utilities, calculating cost, savings, ROI, etc...

An article on how to knock $2,000 off taxes for going solar...

A comprehensive source of information on state, local, utility, and selected federal incentives that promote renewable energy: DSIRE: Pennsylvania Incentives for Renewable Energy

Here are some interesting panels, and a lightweight solar water heater panel.

Affordable Solar - another retailer with a big selection.

And here, one man's blog about going solar... Somewhat related - piped sunlight...

Recycled Nails

Maze is a mill in Illinois that has really nailed down the art of recycling. First off, they make nails exclusively out of re-melted steel (which comes from scrapped cars frames, radiators and I-beams for example). Any scrap steel that they generate while making nails heads right back to the steel mills for re-melting.

Shade Sails

Originally developed in Australia, where canopies were made of sail cloth, these new versions are made of a synthetic knit fabric that blocks 90% of the sun's harmful rays, is super light and impervious to moisture and mold.

They come in a few neutral colors and a bunch of different shapes that are finished off at the corners with heavy duty metal rings that make it easy to attach them to a wall or frame. You can even tie one end down to the ground if you want.

Prices start at @ $130 for a 12-foot triangle.

• Coolaroo.com
  
• ShadeSails.com
  
• Reisingerrigging.com
  

UPDATE - IKEA now sells a similar item for $6.99!

Driveway Paint Permit

Found this on the Streets Dept. FAQ when wondering who to contact for painting off spaces in front of the garage and driveway:

What can I do about parked cars blocking my driveway?

Contact the Streets Department's Customer Affairs Unit at 215-686-5560 and request a Driveway Paint Permit. Provide your name and address. An application will be mailed to you.

Natural Indoor Air Scrubbers

Naturaire - Air is cleaned through completely natural means using processes without any artificial chemicals.

Stuff for the walls

Objects/Panels/Installations

• ModularArts
• Wallter
• C-living Dividers
• Lost-Found Art Installations

Art (besides mine, of course!)

• Hang Fine Art
• MD-Canvas
• Corbis Fine Art

Alarm Systems

• ADT - very expensive
• Brinks - $99/205 installed; they even won an award
• Slomins - free if used for 5 years
• Guardian - $79 install - similar to Brinks
  
• Protect America - Cheesy, but wireless... need to see if others offer
  

Better Business Bureau article on choosing a system.

Outdoor "Carpet"

Or, instant decking. More here.

UPDATE - IKEA now sells a similar item for $6.99 each! Chiasso also sells a similar item, but for $99/3...

Lighting/Fans

• Flux
• G-Squared
• Lightology
• Norwell Inc.
• Modern Fan Co.
• Generate Lighting

House Numbers

Here's the source for Neutra house numbers (and others).

This place makes all sorts of lettering - cheapest option is cast aluminum. Their "Ribbon" face is close to the Neutra style. These guys seem to be cheaper and come with mounting templates.

Alternatives:

• Spore plane numerals
• Signo house numbers from Chiasso
• Modern(ish) Door Plaques
• Similar Door Plaques (although may be indoor only)
  

Bathroom Fixtures

FANCY

• Waterworks - 469 Broome Street
  
• Simon’s Hardware & Bath - 421 Third Avenue
  
• Design Source - 115 Bowery
  
• George Taylor Specialties - 76 Franklin Street
  
• Smolka Co. - 231 East 33rd Street
  
• LuxuryFaucets
• Dornbracht

VINTAGE

• Urban Archaeology - 143 Franklin Street
  
• Architectural Salvage - Louisville, KY
  
• Olde Good Things - 124 West 24th Street
  
• Vintage Tub & Bath - Hazleton, PA

Cool tub, etc...

Thinking about Green Roofs:

Low maintenance DIY green roof "blocks"... Available through Green Roofs in St. Louis.

Low & Zero VOC Paints

• Did you know that indoor air is THREE times more polluted than outdoor air?
• Did you know that the EPA considers indoor air pollution one of the top five hazards to human health?
• Did you know that paints and finishes are among the leading causes of indoor air pollution?

Hmmm... here's a listing of some alternative paints:

• Low & Zero VOC paints
• bioshield paint - green paints, stains, finishes and cleaners

Fireplaces

• FireOrb
  
• Acantha Fireplaces
  
• Home Fires USA
  
• EcoSmart
  
• Table Top Fireplace - small but cool, er, hot
• DIY (sorta) gas fireplace
• Heat & Glo - Everest model is nice
• FireRibbon and others - most excellent!
• Safretti range - minimal, beautiful
  

Tiles for Bathroom

Here's a source for the tiles Kendra likes for the bathroom... an idea we had after seeing similar ones at the newly remodeled Hikaru off South Street.

High Quality 12" x 12" Natural Stone Tile
Quality, high-end Mosaic flooring suitable for Residential and Commercial, Interior and Exterior, Mesh mounted pebbles - natural stone, Brand New, Very Durable. Popular uses : shower floor, foyer, patios...

info@naturalstoneoutlet.com for an estimate.
Natural Stone Tile Outlet
1-888-848-4537
eBay store

• Recycled tiles.
  
• Artistic Tile - Cool tiles, cheese photos.
  
• interface flor - if you have to have carpet, this is the way to go. carpet tiles made from green materials (corn even!). you can make cool patterns and even take it with you if you leave. they are also very generous with samples
  
• cork direct - cork floor dealer, sold online and delivered nationally
  
• imagine tile - tile featuring a photo realistic imaging process so your tiles can look like grass, water, stone, chili peppers, etc. they also do custom images
  
• timbergrass - environmentally conscious bamboo flooring out of portland


• Oceanside Glass Tiles - 80% recycled

Information on the mortage....

Nick Ruggiero
National City Bank
work 609-597-3677
cell 609-290-3966