Blog
Let There Be Light
Looking for that special bathroom bling? Vista Group International’s Lumistone answers the call with “ a traditional Class I acrylic solid surface that contains the unique characteristic of long lasting photoluminescence.” English translation—a surface that glows. Of...
Keyless Entry
Keyless locks aren’t new. Neither is RFID (Radio Frequency Identification). But put the two together and well, that’s a house of a different color. The Gadget Home has come up with just such a system—the Gateman MX540. It replaces your standard metal key with a card...
Electric Carpet
Radiant floors are increasingly popular in new builds, but when it comes to retrofitting, they have their issues—not to mention cost. Matsushita has an innovative alternative that will keep your toesies warm and the electric bill (relatively) sane. Via a built-in IR...
MAG + LED
Every house needs a flashlight (or three) and if you’re serious about lumens, Maglite is the name. Known for their rugged yet stylish design, Mag Technologies has announced a new line of torches using LED technology. Presumably, this will allow for more light, longer...
How Hot!?
Getting clean is fun. Add a digital temperature display to your shower and it’s a downright party. Visentin’s new Gioielli Klino Collection does just that by integrating the displays into their very stylish faucets, shower heads, sprayers, and soap dispenser. Useful?...
No Popped Nails
Beware! Sometime this summer—or maybe as early as the spring—you or someone you love will suffer a stubbed toe while shuffling across the deck toward the barbeque tray. The culprit? A popped nail. To avoid unwanted expletives at your next outdoor gathering consider...
Portable Generator Safety Tips
Somewhere the power is going to go out tonight—storm, accident, bills, whatever. According to the Electric Power Research Institute 3.5 million people lose power in the U.S. each week. I found this list of 10 portable generator safety tips on my desk. They are from...
Picture Perfect
It’s always the “easy” tasks that get mucked up the fastest, even by seasoned DIYers. Hanging picture frames falls squarely into that category, even with our fancy laser levels and such. The Picture Wall Company feels your pain and wants you to use their soup-to-nuts...
Laser Envy
It seems you can’t walk into tool land at your local home center without multiple laser beams guiding you on a straight path to the checkout counter. Some laser products are gimmicky, while others are a true enhancement. If your old workhorse-of-a-miter saw still cuts...
Dinner’s Ready
TMIO’s Connect Io Intelligent Oven is a formidable entry in the growing battleground of kitchen convergence. “How cool can an oven be” you ask? Well, besides looking quite sharp in stainless steel, the PS302SS00 Professional Series sports internet and telephone...
Space Saver Sub
In the world of home theaters, the trend is bigger TVs and smaller speakers. SoundMatters confirms this with their miniscule (for a subwoofer) SUBstage 100. Its footprint of 8"x4" is accomplished via their proprietary magic and “moving walls” within the speaker...
Of Dust Mites and Pet Dander
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency estimates that the air inside your home may be up to five times more polluted than outdoor air. Trane, a manufacturer of heating and cooling equipment, is offering up a solution to the mold, mildew, pet dander, pollen, cooking...
Doorbell Fon
I envy my apartment dwelling friends—not so much for their nomadic lifestyle, loft beds, or creative use of milk crates, but for their Seinfeld-esque intercoms. For those of us with a mortgage, the Doorbell Fon Answering System aims to fill that void by giving us an...
Order Shutters Now
Live in the Southeast and thinking about getting storm coverings for your windows? If so, I urge you to start exploring your options now. Sure it’s only February and hurricane season “officially” starts in June. But in April of last year Florida homeowners were warned...
Self-Charging Smoke Alarm
When was the last time you tested your smoke alarm(s)? Right, me too. And it’s not because we’re lazy (well, ok, it is) but it’s just so darn easy to forget those little life savers… until it’s too late. Hardwired detectors are great for us forgetful types, but if...
Can You See Them Now?
Ain’t the world of tomorrow great—flying cars, holographic vids, self-cleaning toilets. That’s right, I said self-cleaning toilets, and you’ll owe it all to the emerging field of nano technology. Researchers are hard at work on a new titanium dioxide coating that...
My How the Suds Fly!
For those of us who like watching paint dry—and yes, I’m one—there’s all new excitement in the laundry room. Kenmore is releasing the Oasis HE washer and dryer with viewing windows for each—on a top-loader, no less. Now that’s cool. But the features go way beyond...
Foul Feet Foiled Again
For those of us who might actually consider eating off the floor, here’s the ultimate germ protection—Dr. Doormat, the anti-microbial doormat to keep germs out on the mat where they belong. Inventor Debbie Greenspan came up with the sanitary solution after years of...
Freedom Fridge
If you’re looking for some quick home improvement thrills, kitchen appliances are an easy target. Every year the market sees faster ovens, cooler fridges, and baskets of cooking gadgets aimed directly at the kitchen of tomorrow—today. Example: The new Freedom...
Protecting Your Home from Wildfire
Wildfire is in the news a lot right now. In fact, since late December wildfires in several U.S. states—including Texas, Oklahoma, and California—have burned hundreds of thousands of acres, destroyed hundreds of homes, and killed several people. While the Southeast has...
Cooking with Einstein
Quick, name two things you don’t have enough of. No, not that. Not that either. Think kitchens...right—space and time, and if you’re like me, you’d give anything for more of either. Sharp’s new Microwave Drawer actually promises both, letting you reclaim precious...
Forward Thinking
I’m all about bright and shiny, so it was with great glee that I stumbled upon Electrolux’s “Imagine the Home in 2020” competition. Once you get past the boring-as-Saltines name, you’ll be wowed by the range of products these imagineers have come up with(over 3,000...
Mattress Magic
Hypnos, I love you. You... complete me. And I swear if it wasn’t for your outrageous $24,000 price tag, the dog and I would be all over this little slice of heaven. Stuffed with a 28-inch Loewe flatscreen TV that rises from the base, and headboard compartments for my...
Cool Art?
Shame on you LG. Sure, you make an air conditioner with a picture frame where the grill should be. Good idea, but the name—“ART COOL”? C’mon guys, kinda obvious, don’tcha think? That aside, the product does have some genuinely “cool” features—an ultra-quiet motor, a...
Look Ma, No Speakers
Congratulations, you convinced the Mrs. that your 70” TV purchase was, in fact, for the kids. I mean, Clifford is supposed to be big, right? Now comes the tough sell—those speakers. Fortunately for you (and your marriage), Stealth Acoustics has introduced a new line...
Your Soaking In It
Long day at the office? Well, assuming you own the office, Kohler has just the thing to soothe your pains. For $9k the new Sok Whirlpool will immerse you not only in bubbling H2O, but also a rotating stream of chromatherapeutic light. Chroma-what-now? According to...
Split Personality
The Reversica Cabinet—Makes Kids Disappear! (at least in this pic). Ok, that’s not part of the deal. Actually, Hooker Furniture has been making innovative entertainment pieces for some time now and this “Jekyll and Hide” console continues that streak. The rotating...
Dam It
Here in New England it’s been a crazy winter—50’s one day, minus 80 the next. This freeze-and-thaw scenario is what ice dams love best, trapping water on your roof where it will inevitably find a way into the rafters and beyond. My fix has been the typical series of...
Wall Warts Be Gone
Admit it, you have them...a lot of us do. In fact, "wall warts" affect millions every year and, given our voracious appetite for gadgets, aren’t going anywhere soon. In case you’re wondering, wall warts are those annoying power adapters that accompany almost every...
Stuck On You
I was not what you would call “cool” in my younger days. In fact, my violin and I were known as an excellent target for snowballs, not to mention wedgies. I suspect that's why I hear the words “prom” and “duct tape” used in the same sentence, I tend to imagine the...
