Modern Pendants from Lights Up
Our sales rep emailed us yesterday about Lights Up, a lighting company based out of New York. We love the line and thought we should share it with you. They make pretty, colorful pendants, which are really inexpensive and really fun. Lightsup's lead time is 10 days. The fabric can be customized.
Here are some of our favorites:
The fabric selection is adorable. Here are a few (you can see the rest on the site).
These pendants, as we mentioned previously, are totally inexpensive. They run between $200-$400.
To see the complete line, check out Lights Up web site. We'll be putting them up on our lighting section soon, so check our site in a few days...
Prevent Mold in Your New Green Home
There are two types of moisture that can enter a home: bulk moisture and vapor moisture. Bulk moisture can get into a home around windows, doors, and leaks in the roof, as well as from condensation from pipes and ducts. Vapor moisture forms as a result of cooking, showering (yes, those long, hot showers), laundry, changes to the humidity level in the home, and just general living.
How do green homes manage moisture? A few ways are by having:
- A well-designed floor plan and careful placement and orientation of the home on the lot to take advantage of solar access and shading;
- Energy efficient insulation system to keep the house warm in winter and cool in summer which heps reduce condensation and mold growth;
- Well-sealed, energy efficient windows and doors;
- Good ventilation with heat recovery ventilation (HRV) units and extraction fans in the kitchen and bathrooms.
Moisture control starts with the green home design. Talk to an architect about your plans to build a healthy, energy efficient home for your family and build a new home that manages moisture and prevents mold!
About Us
We had a little money to play with and decided to decorate our own house. Mind you, we knew nothing about decorating then. We proceeded to waste a lot of money from overpaying for furniture, hiring worthless interiors designers (note: not all interiors designers are worthless, just ours) and whatever else. It was a complete disaster.
So we proceeded to find our own sources for decorating, and in the process, found some amazing places where you can get good stuff for cheap.
It was in one of those boring ass, trying-to-make-some-sales trips that we decided that maybe we could turn what we learned into a viable business. We quit our jobs.
Little did we know, it's a hard, hard business. Especially if you try to run a retail store. Especially after 9/11. Especially if you don't have any clue on how to run a business.
We started out as an online store only; then had this brilliant idea of opening a retail store, which we had no business doing. It almost undid us. Physically. Mentally. Financially.
So we got back to our core business a few years ago, which is to create an e-commerce site for home furnishing products that are pretty and affordable.
This turns out to be the best business decision we ever made.
We now operate two online stores. Inside Avenue is our main store and carries mostly furniture and accessories. Inside Fabric is our first niche store, carrying only upholstery fabrics and wallpapers. We plan to add more niche stores in the future- time and money permitting.
This blog is born out of our love for decorating. We love finding new things and tell you about it.
We love discovering new vendors, especially the small and emerging ones, and write about them.
As we find new resources that are interesting or useful, we share them with you. They are not all neccessarily about decorating. Sometimes we write about food,travel and fashion too.
We hope you enjoy our blog. Thank you for reading.
P.S. Your thoughtful comments are always appreciated (note we said "thoughtful"-read into that as it was intended).
Three Very Glamorous Chandeliers
So we are going to buck the trend by only have three items in our list. Mainly because right now there are only three chandeliers that we think are worth mentioning, and the other reason is, well, we really are lazy today. It's been a long week.
We promise to bring it to ten eventually.
Here are our three favorite chandeliers this week. We like them because they make such a statement without being too expensive (they run about $1500-$1800).
This one is from Oly Studio. It's called Flower Fall Chandelier.
This one is from a small designer in Los Angeles called Marjorie Skouras. We saw this in High Point and it is lovely indeed.
This one is from Made Goods, one of our new favorite vendors.
Colorful Upholstery Furniture from CR Laine
So we were really happy to see some colors this seasons from some of the old-school uphoslterers. They are finally getting it! Who wants to be surrounded by drab all the time! Give us some vibrancy and happiness! Give us colors!
Here are some from CR Laine that we kinda like. This company makes great upholstery furniture. Most of their stuff is fairly standard (as you will see from the web site), but here are some jewels:
To see the complete product line, visit to CR Laine web site.
AIA Architects: Billings Index Sending Positive Signals
A new press release generated by the American Institute of Architects reports a positive change in the number of inquiries for possible new projects, calling this “an early signal towards a recovery for the design and construction industry”.
The AIA uses its Architecture Billings Index (ABI), a leading economic indicator that provides an approximate nine to twelve month lag time between architecture billings and construction spending, as a means of gauging an increase or demand for design services.
The October ABI new projects inquiry score was 58.5, following the 59.1 mark in September (any score above 50 indicates an increase). The October ABI rating was 46.1, up sharply from 43.1 in September. This score, however, indicates a continued decline in demand for design services and the AIA remains cautious, saying “it is far too early to think we are out of the woods.”
Using our very accurate BA&A index, we can report a significant increase in new project inquiries for new home construction and green building, especially from people building in Connecticut, Rhode Island, and New Hampshire.
If you are thinking about building an energy efficient home, visit our website to learn about our Design Services and Architectural Fees (yes, our fees are listed on our website!).
Virtual Laser Keyboard
The I-Tech Virtual Keyboard uses a light projection of a full-sized computer keyboard on almost any surface. Used with PDA's and Smart Phones, the Virtual Keyboard provides a practical way to do e-mail, word processing and spreadsheet tasks, enabling users to leave laptops and computers at home.
VKB's adaptable technology studies the user's finger movements to interpret and record keystrokes. Because the virtual keyboard is an image projected by light, it disappears completely when not in use.
When using the VKB settings can be changed either via your laptop, your PC or your compatible Smartphone and PDA:
# Sound: controllable Virtual Keyboard sound effects (keyclicks)
# Connection: Connection to the appropriate Laptop/PC port
# Intensity: Intensity of the projected Virtual Keyboard
# Timeouts: coordinated timeouts to conserve the Virtual Keyboard's battery life
# Sensitivity: adjustable sensitivity of the Virtual Keyboard
# Auto-repeat: Allows the VKB to automatically repeat a key based on prescribed parameters
Virtual Laser Keyboard
Cara Tepat Teknik Pengecoran Beton
PREPARATION
Stirring
TRANSPORT
FOUNDRY and compaction
Home Builders Applaud Congress on Extending Home Buyer Tax Credit
“We commend lawmakers for acting in a bipartisan manner to extend the first-time home buyer tax credit beyond its Nov. 30 deadline and expand it to a wider group of home buyers,” said NAHB Chairman Joe Robson, a home builder from Tulsa, Okla. “The tax credit has proven to be a powerful economic incentive. Today’s action by Congress will further stabilize housing and the economy by creating new jobs, stimulating home sales, reducing foreclosures, cutting excess inventories and stabilizing home prices.”
The new law will extend the $8,000 credit for first-time home buyers for sales contracts entered into by April 30, 2010 and closed by June 30. Further, it has been expanded to include a new $6,500 credit for owners of existing homes who are purchasing a new home as a principal residence. An existing home owner can claim the $6,500 tax credit if they have been residing in their principal residence for five consecutive years out of the last eight. Additionally, the income eligibility limits to claim the full credit amount for both groups of home buyers have been raised to $125,000 for individuals and $225,000 for married couples.
NAHB estimates that the extended and expanded home buyer tax credit will create 211,000 jobs and generate 180,000 additional home sales in the coming year. It is also expected to generate $9.6 billion in wage income and $6.9 billion in federal, state and local taxes.
The legislation, which also extends unemployment insurance benefits and offers relief to cash-strapped firms by providing broader tax benefits for businesses with net operating losses (NOLs), is expected to be signed into law shortly by President Obama.
“The new NOL rules will throw a lifeline to struggling businesses, allowing them to continue making payrolls, paying business loans and otherwise keep their doors open until the economic recovery takes hold,” said Robson.
Source: http://www.nahb.org
Home Design Specific to Your Location
Views
Terrain and slope
Solar gain
Prevailing winds
On a lake:
Views
Solar gain
Comprehensive Shoreland Protection Act or applicable guidelines and restrictions
In the suburbs:
Views
Solar gain and shading
Architectural Review Board guidelines and regulations
Decoration Ideas
You can find conduct to keep everyone contented, and still not squander a fortune on decorating. A good idea is to have a few ideas that you like, and that coordinate the outcome's extent with the remainder of the house, and then let the baby collect out of those options. In this way, the toddler still feels he has a say in how his span is decorated, and you will have an extent that you like and that goes with the lean of the house. One of the most important considerations in decorating Decorate idea a kid's area is that it must be an area that is as unadorned as viable and relaxed to keep virtuous. This means the accessories should be reserved to a tiniest so that there is excluding to dust and vacuum. You should also try to keep the furniture at a least, since there will be excluding area for litter to gather.
Many parents like to adorn they're kids' rooms with a cute theme. This is possibly not a good idea except money is no oppose, since kids grow fast and tastes change. If you don't demur expenses a lot on a new theme every the existence, that's O.K., but most people can't or don't want to exhaust that kind of money. Better to have a neutral extent so where you don't have to hurl the old objects away constantly. Just look around at garage sales some day. You will see entire rooms of so-called "themes" departing for ten cents on the dough. Nevertheless garage sales are a great way to recognize your kid's area. Many well constructed substance of furniture or accessories are presented as kids grow, and you can take them and remake them into your own with a little paint and adding some other items. Let your toddler help pick the accessories and help with the painting; when a newborn is complex in this manage, he will have more of the brains of ownership and will keep the space cleaner Decorate idea.
Decorating ideas living rooms
One living area Decorating ideas living rooms idea that is definite to zing up your space is to wish a bold enclose blush. Many people shy away from saturated insignia, but these are the very hues that can make a dramatic avowal about your personality. If you do not want to paint all the stockade in your living extent a bold shade, you can paint an accent enclose. These ramparts are great to make an impression without overwhelming the extent. You can then use accessories to tie the affect into the remainder of the span. Updating your opening treatments will also go a long way towards improving the atmosphere. Choose hangings or curtains that complement the design panache you have elected for the leftovers of your span. Using full looking fabrics on the windows will add a mood of luxury to your span, and help to earn all your living area decorating thoughts together.
Another key quantity in living extent decorating dreams is lighting. Make really your lighting is adequate, but not overpowering. Don’t use florescent lights as they are very harsh, and a living scope is all about mood. Use an efficient overhead game to give universal light, and a few lamps around the extent for duty lighting. Another lighting side that is often overlooked is the use of candles. Not only are they decorative, but they impart mood lighting as well. You can get candles and holders in all different colors and sizes to help achieving your living space decorating dreams. On thing not to neglect is putting art on your stockade. The helps to carry the room together and adds a private finger. You can want painted canvases that can look great all on their own, or a framed carry in shades that complement your influence design. Another great edge art idea photographs. These can be family films or perhaps a black and sallow landscape or city sky line. The key here is not to exceed it. Keep it unfussy and uncrowded. If your bulwark are too eventful, it will detract from the general atmosphere you are running to found Decorating ideas living rooms.
Unique decorating ideas
In days deceased by, a bungalow was the servants' quarters, or perhaps a single building to house occasional guests. The cottage may have been furnished with a large assortment of styles, scraps from the chief house that were the sinful flare or showed signs of hold and tear. Therefore, a few scratches are not only accepted, but accept in this look. The manner could indeed be called eclectic, because different decorating styles and eras may be represented, even in one span. This relaxed eclectic look has now been formalized in its own tailor called cottage panache decorating Unique decorating ideas Since you can mix and equal as you please, antiques and odds and trimmings furniture fit wholly and you can put almost any design into a home decked like this. An antique furniture parted, that was perhaps not as well cared for as it should have been, makes a whole addition to the cottage approach home.
Since something goes in this tailor of decorating, you can actually store a lot of money because you don't have to look for top worth in achieve state. As a theme of verity, some new furniture has been scratched and spoiled to be made to look old and beat up! Nevertheless you can get great bargains at flea markets and estate sales and the substance will still look in method long after a new exclusive decorating trend has left out of comfort. Another loss saving benefit of this type is the fabrics also do not have to tally. You can buy remnants and odd pieces instead of paying rounded cost for a bolt of fabric. And since the look of cottage sort is already a bit busy because of different styles and patterns, you don't want to have too many accent pieces placed around the space, so you bank money on these items as well Unique decorating ideas.
Cakes decorating ideas
Themes Sport theme, underwater adventure, 50's or recent themes of 20's are some of the themes that you can use. Think about the recipient of the cake and the guests' feedback for the theme that you are considering. A masquerade accessory will gauzily go with the theme that you forecast. Motor Cakes: Most boys will forever be fascinated with motors like cars, trucks, fire engines, tractors, boats, airplanes or helicopters. The expertise that you have in cake decorating will help you make racing strip, firemen on the run, or a 3 dimensional tractor plowing in the farmhouse. Animals You can cut the cake to have a vision of animal as your theme. It could each be one animal or a location in a zoo featuring many kinds of mammals or birds. Food The preparation of the cake will also depend on the time that you are open to have. If it is about break of Italian restaurant, you can have a field where you can see a shop or a vision portraying a cook at work. Again you can cut the cake to signify foods like hot dog, taco or burgers. When it comes to food theme, the cake decorating dreams are infinite Cakes decorating ideas.
Holiday Themes Holidays are special and it will be a great time to show off your creativity. Bunnies will be good in Easter, hearts during Valentine's Day, or cloverleaf on the spread of St. Patrick. Your Own Creation A lot of tradition in cake decorating will give you elegance of your own designs. You can easily make any kinds of styles of cakes on any celebrations. The cake that you conceive will always be crux of attention during any celebration The satisfaction that you will get from the praises will be worth any of the power you put in. Spending time practicing will pay abounding dividends as your Cakes decorating ideas skills are convinced to recover. Ask friends and experts or hunt the web for ideas in cake decorating and use them to groom your creative skills.
Color decorating ideas
The most public influence for a lass's scope is pink so we'll open with that. Pink can come in assorted hues from the light, crayon ones to the darker ones such as fuchsia and hot pink. Play with hues. You can onset from a trivial pallid pink paint and add niceties in darker hues. Such as children's sheet or a rug in hot pink. Of course, you would must to surplus this out with a the ashen furnishing just so the span won't end looking monotonous. Pink is definitely fit for a princess so if you are decorating a span around that theme, the tips above would work very well for you. The ordinary girls extent shade would be light unhappy. When one thinks of light navy, the sky and the sea immediately comes to heed thus making it a great shade for an underwater themed area. Now, just like in the pink area, you should also elect an immoral tint for the bulwark and then desire lighter or darker hues for the decoration. If you take a finicky shady down for the hedge, you should diverge that with very light dyed furnishings Color decorating ideas.
A light dejected bed paste, bed and closet would do perfectly. Of course, ashen should also be bestow and it could be as a rug, the shade of the extent's moldings as well as in the furnishings. Perhaps you are wondering why you should garland according to hue and not just mix and tally flag, well, you can mix and equal flag but sometimes that tends to look chaotic. While decorating with a sole shade of varying hues would give the span an uniformed but still comfortable ambiance. Plus, you won't have a hard time annoying to reach everything together. Color decorating can also be great help if you can't think of a pleasant theme for your girls room. The tint itself could become the theme which is not only easier when compared to have something like a French theme or a Princess theme. As I've said earlier, from one track color you can get plentiful ideas for decoration. Just play around with the different hues to give the room intensity. Never go for a separate hue when decorating a room because liability so would authority it even looking and too monotonous Color decorating ideas.
Six Great Decorating Web Sites
We love decorating web sites as much as some people love chocolate, perhaps even more so. It's an addiction, actually. A harmless one, but an addiction nonetheless.
Here are some fantastic decorating web sites we'd like to share with you. They serve as inspiration boards, ideas and sometimes, just decorating porn...
1) Light Locations
The web site itself is a photography agency for home & garden magazines, but you can get ideas from their beautiful images.
2) Remodelista
This is great blog for resources, product ideas and the like. Easy reading, pretty pictures.
3) Design Sponge
Founded by Grace Bonney, this blog has several postings per week with topics ranging from decorating, DYI project, before & after, book reviews. Very thoughfully written.
4) Point Click Home
This is the official web site for Metropolitan Home and Elle Decor. It is well-categorized and have all the back issues covered. A great site to browse through past & current issues without having to store tons of old magazines.
5) My Home Ideas
This is the official web site for Sunset Magazine, Southern Accents, Southern Living, Cottage Living and Real Simple. It has tons of pictures (and tons of ads as well), but it is a wonderful site to browse through for tips and inspirations.
6) Redcover
We love this web site for its wide range of home decorating pictures, mostly international. Beautiful photography.
Backpack Shcool
Autos
Designing & Building a Custom Home: Free Seminar November 21, 2009
10:00 AM - Noon
Bonin Architects & Associates Office
209 Main Street
New London, NH 03257
Unique Pendants from DK Living
So we were a little excited when we saw these at DK Living. This company sells furniture and accessories that are simple but very unique. The prices are very reasonable too. They run between $200-800 for the fixtures.
Here are some pendants that are quite lovely...
----------------------------------------------------
This one is a mesh-wire in silver. It 's only $200.
We love this glass pendant. It's so simple and clean-lined.
This picture is terrible, but the pendant looks adorable in person. The bubbles are being tied together by very thin wires. It runs about $700 or so.
We just like the simplicity of this pendant.
This one is very glamorous. It's about $800.
The pictures are not so great, sorry. They look much in person though.