House Design

No matter where you live, one of the best ways to improve energy efficiency in your home is to secure or re-enforce your Thermal Envelope.  The Thermal Envelope is the combined effect of your existing windows and doors, wall and roof assembly, weather-stripping, insulation and air retarders.

In short, every component of your home interior and exterior builds an envelope that separates your living space from the elements. Skimp on any of these factors or allow them to fall into disrepair, and you’re adding to your year-round utility bills.

Photo by Dean of Green

The Federal Citizen Information Center (FCIC) contends that insulation is a critical factor in securing the thermal envelope. You should strive, where possible, to install products with higher insulation R-values than those required to suit local building codes.

Consider that the insulation of foundations and slabs is also critical in putting a seal at the bottom of the residential envelope. In

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At the 2010 NeoCon show in Chicago, the American manufacturer Izzy+ exhibited two concept “third space” pieces that were designed by Joey Ruiter.  The first concept draws you into a small alcove composed of a table, seating and an arbor-like ceiling resembling woven branches, where you might spend an hour, thinking or talking privately to others, recharging your energy in reflective solitude. You can’t miss this 24 foot bar-like structure, capped off with a semi-enclosed seating area. The entire product creates three distinct collaboration zones: extrovert, social and private. izzy+ Founder and CEO Chuck Saylor is excited about the “concept car” conversation. “This is experimentation 101. It’s another stage of our research on how people act and use space for collaboration and personal reflection, and how we can best support them,” he says. In the five stag

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Landscape design is a specialized field that involves various skills. Knowledge in horticulture is an asset, as is an understanding of how drainage, soil conditions and plantings come together to form a beautiful, functional landscape. Your Virginia deck will fit into a well planned yard. And using software and other high tech tools will help you develop a seamless design. What Type of Deck Design Software Is Best?

Many of the deck designing programs on the market are limited in their function. Look for software that will provide the most flexibility, allowing you to sketch out and plan for a deck that includes unique shapes and custom features.

Have a look at reviews online to get a better idea of how the program functions. Getting feedback from those who have actually designed their deck or patio using the program is invaluable.

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Sometimes I remember what’s really important when I am doing something that doesn’t seem very important at all. And I remembered it while manning the grill with Dave Zinczenko at Apple Fest 2011.

I didn’t ask him to help me cook organic hot dogs (generously donated by Applegate Farms) for my Maria’s Farm Country Kitchen stand, he volunteered. He joined an august group of dedicated helpers who I am extremely grateful to—Ethne Clarke, Kate Oswalt, Tony Hail (son-in-law), Dana Blinder, Heidi Rodale, Melissa Chuhran, and others—some of whom I had never met before. Since it was Apple Fest’s third year, we weren’t sure what to expect. All we knew was that whatever we did that day was to benefit the Rodale Institute, and that was the primary reward.

The festival began at 10:00, and by 10:01 there were cars lined up down the gorgeous country lane as far as the eye could see.  And that line of cars didn’t stop all day (the final count was about 4,000 attendees). I thought it remin

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Stosa Kitchens has recently launched a new company showroom fully with modern kitchen model, located in headquarters, in the province of Siena in Radicofani. Wide spaces and rational lines characterize the exhibition area, developed and designed in collaboration with the team of designers and architect.L Stosa entire range is divided into two main areas, one that encompasses the collection of  modern kitchen design which includes classical and modern kitchen collection.

Covering an area of 1,200 square meters, are in fact the most successful models already presented in the kitchen catalog, but also with joy, the latest addition to Stosa, showing impeccably handle the new system, throat, recently included among the company proposals.

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This was bought on a flee market by 5€ (about 7$), just to see what I could do with it.

This is the final result, it was a fun project and I learned a few things with it. It works nicely, way better then I was expecting. My japaning turned out nice, didnt expect that to work