Home Gadget Fest: Gizmos and goodies for your home!

A few of the latest and greatest gadgets for your home! Some for simplicity, some for convenience, and some just because they're cool, which ones will you add to your wish list?

Hidden flat screen tv's. Very 'Sherlock Homes' yet functional if you like a more tailored and sophisticated living space. Slide the art in place until you're ready for some tv time.

Toe kick vacuum. By far the most useful of new home gizmos, this 'vacuum' is mounted right underneath your cabinetry and instead of bending over to sweep up with a dustpan you just sweep the mess right into the vacuum space and it's picked up by your central vac.

Wall mounted garage door opener. For those garages that don't allow for a traditional garage door opener, there are no rails required, the unit simply mounts to the wall.

Electronic dog/cat doors. There are a variety of these on the market. Basically your pet wears a collar that contains either a magnetic or infrared device that unlocks the dog door allowing them in and keeping strays and unwanted animals out.

Fingerprint door locks. For extra security there are dozens of fingerprint door locks. Use them on your front door, garage door, or even an office to keep unwanted visitors out.

Automatic blinds and curtains. No need to mention the convenience of having remote controlled window shades but especially great for tall windows or skylights that are out of reach. What's even better is that you can get cordless electric blinds which have added security for small children that like to play with strings and cords.


-5280 Lady

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Planet Reuse: Reclaimed & Salvaged Materials for your project!

Stumbled onto a fantastic website today thanks to the NAHB. Planet Reuse is an excellent resource for builders, designers, and homeowners looking to find salvaged and reclaimed materials for their projects. I am a big fan of antiques and vintage goods. I love the idea of repurposing an old and unusual item or material and turning it into something new and relevant. Pair that with the green attitude of the country and you end up with a company like Planet Reuse.

Essentially they provide a place to track down and find materials that are taken from demolition sites. It's a win win for contractors, they can find a use for your project waste and turn one mans's trash into another man's treasure. They even document this for your LEED waste management program and will handle all of the shipping and storing.

On the other end of the spectrum, designers homeowners or builders looking for unique materials or just looking to save some money by buying recycled goods can check out their listings of available materials. They have all kinds of unexpected things like recycled granite that has been turned into pavers, hand hewn beams from old barns, you can even find old gym floor tiles! If you're looking for something in particular you can submit a request for materials.

As a wannabe designer myself I see it as a gold mine... the recycled clay tiles, the antique marble slabs, the cypress logs, the recycled church pews... it's like a creative designers dream and I can think of a million ways to turn these materials into a work of art in any home.

So support the green movement, builders check off your LEED standards of building, and take advantage of the vast amount of salvaged materials out there!

~5280 Lady

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Product Watch: Bacteria used for making Eco Bricks??

You wouldn't think that the terms "eco" and "bacteria" would go sononomously but according to the latest product catching press in the United Arab Emirates the tides may be about to change. The latest in eco building products are bricks made from bacteria and sand! The specifics are obviously a bit more complicated but essentially the bacteria binds with specific solutions and the sand. When placed in a form the end result is an eco friendly brick ready to compose the walls of the next skyscraper. These new bricks require no baking in a kiln and therefore eliminate the need to burn coal for fuel. The creator estimates that this will reduce the amount of carbon emissions by 800 million tons annually!

This new discovery is still under testing with environmental engineers but the predicted future is a positive one. Ginger Kreig Dosier, an American architecture professor, is responsible for the find and she hopes to mass produce the bio-bricks for under developed countries and ultimately the US for the same cost as standard clay bricks. Construction of the future should prove interesting if discoveries like this persist!


~5280 Lady

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