Dec
22
Hidden hazards to keep in mind this holiday season
December 22, 2016 | Leave a Comment
(BPT) – As we head into the holidays and winter months, it’s important to ensure both your indoor and outdoor decorations are safe and securely assembled. These items are often overlooked around your home during the season and they can cause very serious hazards, including fires. U.S. fire departments responded to an estimated average of 357,000 home fires per year between 2009-2013, causing 2,470 deaths and $6.9 billion in damage, according to the NFPA (National Fire Prevention Association). That’s why it’s important to check your decorations, lights and heating systems for any faults while also installing preventative measures to keep you and your family safe.
The following safety tips for inside and outside of your home to keep your family safe this holiday season:
Outdoor hazard prevention
It’s important to make sure your outdoor holiday lighting displays and décor can safely withstand harsh elements like rain and snow. By following the precautions below, one can avoid outdoor fire hazards and ensure holiday lights and décor remain intact and festive all season long.
* Ensure all extension cords and electrical decorations used for outdoor decorating are marked for outdoor use.
* Outdoor holiday lights and decorations should be plugged into circuits protected by ground fault circuit interrupters (GFCIs). If circuits are not GFCI-protected, portable outdoor GFCIs can be purchased where electrical supplies are sold and are simple to install.
* Use wooden or fiberglass ladders when decorating outdoors. Metal ladders conduct electricity.
* Exercise caution when decorating near power lines. Keep yourself and your equipment at least 10 feet away from them.
* Avoid overloading electrical outlets with too many decorations or extension cords. They can overheat and cause a fire.
* Make sure that cords are not pinched in doors, windows, or under heavy furniture, which could damage the cord’s insulation.
Indoor hazard prevention
With all the décor and lighting happening outside, the busy kitchen activities, rooms lit by candles and Christmas tree lights can also lead to a variety of fire hazards this winter season. That’s why it’s important to consider preventative measures for outlets, like Leviton’s SmartlockPro AFCI Outlet, which can detect a wide range of arcing electrical faults caused by plugged in lights or devices. Once an AFCI Outlet detects an arcing fault, it immediately shuts off power to help prevent potential ignition of a fire. These are important to have in living areas like bedrooms, living rooms and kitchens to protect homeowners from unexpected electrical hazards.
A few ways other ways to avoid the risk of electrical fires indoors include the following:
* Consider purchasing LED lights, which use less energy and run cooler than traditional incandescent lights.
* Similar to outdoor use, consider replacing standard outlets with Tamper-Resistant (TR) Outlets, which are designed for child safety. TR Outlets have a shutter mechanism inside the outlet which blocks access to the contacts unless a two-prong plug is inserted.
* Use only portable heating equipment that is approved for indoor use. Space heaters are temporary and should only be used for a limited time each day.
* Plug space heaters directly into a wall outlet. Never use an extension cord or power strip. Do not plug anything else into the same outlet while a space heater is in use. Do not use space heaters with frayed or damaged cords.
Dec
20
Simply sleek: How to create today’s top shower design
December 20, 2016 | Leave a Comment
(BPT) – Love the look of sleek, elegant shower spaces featured in popular home-improvement magazines and TV shows? You don’t need to be a design expert to update your favorite bathroom with touches of modern luxury and influences of European simplicity…
Dec
20
Smart storage ideas to squeeze extra space from your bathroom
December 20, 2016 | Leave a Comment
(BPT) – Shampoo bottles, makeup tools, lotions, linens and laundry – the bathroom is one of the most frequented rooms in the home and clutter can collect quickly. Stop the chaos before it gets out of control by implementing some smart storage solutions…
Dec
20
4 statement pieces to elevate your bathroom to a work of art
December 20, 2016 | Leave a Comment
(BPT) – Investing in a bathroom upgrade is in the cards for nearly a quarter of homeowners planning to renovate within the next 12 months, according to a new survey by Bankrate.com. Improving a bathroom is rewarding on multiple levels; if you’re selling, buyers love great bathrooms. If you’re staying, a luxurious bathroom can be a relaxing oasis where you’ll be happy to begin or end a busy day.
Your bathroom is also an expression of who you are, and it should reflect not only your needs but your unique artistic flare as well. What could be more satisfying than making an artistic statement in one of the most-used rooms in your home? If you’re planning a bathroom renovation, here are four ways to make a statement in the space – and elevate your bathroom to a work of art:
Choose a showpiece sink
Few design elements afford such a perfect opportunity for utility and artistry to blend beautifully as does the bathroom sink. A striking statement vessel in patterned porcelain or smoky glass can be a focal point for your vanity while still providing ample space for essential functioning.
It’s not difficult to find statement-style sinks, but to truly elevate the basin to a form of art, look for options that evoke the look and feel of the era when luxury items were handcrafted by learned artisans. Kohler, a trusted name in bathroom fixtures for more than 100 years, offers Kohler Artists Editions collections that turn everyday fixtures into striking statement pieces. Whether you choose the subtle, carved texture and the complex color transitions of the Derring collection, the organic beauty of the Nature’s Chemistry glass lavatories or the old-world stylings of the Sartorial Line, each piece is a unique statement of your personal artistry.
Stun with a standout shower
Most Americans spend six to 10 minutes or more in the shower each day, according to multiple surveys. But a shower is so much more than just a place to get clean. A shower can soothe at the end of a trying day, or invigorate your senses in preparation for a busy day ahead. Statement showers incorporate luxury features such as multiple shower heads, wall jets, hand showers, rainfall showerheads, seating, customized lighting and even sound and video.
While bigger may be better in a statement shower, it may not always be possible. Start with a glass enclosure that makes the shower feel open to the room. If your space is small, choose lighter-colored tile. Bigger showers can withstand darker tile work.
Create luxury with countertops
Options like granite, marble, concrete, limestone and other natural stones might be too costly for a kitchen, where you have a lot of counter space, but they’re a cost-effective way to make a statement in a bathroom where you have less square footage to cover. These high-end materials pair perfectly with statement sinks to create a unique, one-of-a-kind look. Upgrade bathroom countertops to your dream material and then add luxury touches like a matching backsplash or under-counter LED lighting.
Transformations with tubs
Tub options are virtually limitless these days, and you can find statement tubs in every size and style imaginable. The tub is often the essential element homeowners and designers first fall in love with, and the one that establishes the direction for their overall bathroom redesign.
Soaking tubs continue to be popular installations for bathroom renovations, according to the 2016 National Kitchen & Bath Association trend report. Whether you choose a traditional claw-foot design that evokes a bygone era, a concrete tub that creates a more modern or industrial look, or a porcelain confection with sweeping, graceful lines, you can find a statement tub to match your personal sense of artistry.
Renovating a bathroom is an investment well worth the time, money and passion – and it’s an opportunity to put your artistic mark on one of the most important rooms in any home.
Dec
20
Simply sleek: How to create today’s top shower design
December 20, 2016 | Leave a Comment
(BPT) – Love the look of sleek, elegant shower spaces featured in popular home-improvement magazines and TV shows? You don’t need to be a design expert to update your favorite bathroom with touches of modern luxury and influences of European simplicity…
Dec
20
Make a design statement with cypress
December 20, 2016 | Leave a Comment
(BPT) – As Americans design their dream homes, or plan the remodel of their existing ones, wood is once again becoming a prominent feature in their interior design schemes. One species in particular – cypress – is attracting the attention of both millennials in the suburbs and boomers along the shoreline. So what’s the appeal?
“Cypress is a unique wood that offers a variety of looks,” says Brian Meier of the Southern Cypress Manufacturers Association, www.CypressInfo.org. “It’s readily available in visual grades ranging from knotty to knot-free. And it’s a beautiful wood. Its natural color, which typically varies from golden honey to light chocolate tones, can include red and olive hues. And while wood is a timeless building material that can complement any architectural style, cypress will make a design statement in any room.”
The appeal is real
Cypress is often the go-to material for siding and other exterior applications where good looks and durability really count, and rightfully so. However, it’s those same attributes that make cypress an ideal choice for indoor applications like high-end cabinetry and bold, built-in storage solutions.
Mandeville, Louisiana custom cabinet manufacturer Geoff Philippus agrees. “Thanks to its natural resistance to water, cypress is a great wood to use in wet zones, such as kitchens, bathrooms, mudrooms, and even outdoor cooking areas,” he says. Philippus added that customers usually come to his custom shop with a design in mind, and he then offers suggestions on how to achieve their desired look.
“More often than not we introduce people to cypress, from new growth, reclaimed, river recovered, or pecky cypress with its naturally occurring pockets and holes,” Philippus says. “It’s something they’ve never seen before, and they fall in love with it. We recently completed a massive kitchen island and matching built-ins showcasing pecky cypress. The visual effect is like nothing else out there and it’s one of my favorite projects.”
Add some personality
Plain walls and bare ceilings are passé. Today’s savvy homeowners are looking to add personal style to their living spaces beyond what a fresh coat of paint can provide. Adding a touch of cypress to the mix is a great beginning.
According to Mark Jefferson, a specialty woodworker from Palm City, Florida, “Nothing adds aesthetic warmth to a room like wood,” he says. “And cypress packs plenty of character and design flexibility. I’ve used it for everything from coffered ceilings and decorative doors to paneling and general millwork. Cypress also is excellent for structural design elements, such as exposed timbers and beams, which are popular because they open up a space, making ceilings seem higher and rooms look bigger.”
Be inspired
Wooden furniture is synonymous with durability and a long-term investment that can be repaired, refinished and passed down from generation to generation. And while furniture can be crafted out of many different wood species, for custom furniture maker Jason Straw of Gainesville, Florida, his choice is cypress, and for several reasons.
“Cypress offers intense imagery and color, with a rich grain and texture that makes stunning furniture – or rather, functional pieces of art,” Straw says. “It’s a great wood to craft dining room tables, desks, vanities, headboards, and nightstands.” But for Straw, there’s an even greater appeal.
“I like using cypress, especially logs that are recovered from rivers and swamps,” Straw says. “To know that I’m using wood from a tree that probably started growing thousands of years ago – and has been under water for at least 100 years – is fascinating to me. The wood’s history is on my mind every time I work with it.”
You too can be inspired. Visit www.CypressInfo.org to explore the myriad ways cypress can make a design statement in your living space.