Blog
Move Over Tape Measure
Lasers are cool— and now Stanley is setting out to make cool laser technology available to DIY-ers everywhere. Stanley's FatMax Tru-Laser Distance Measurer—laser tape measure—is actually affordable for weekenders like myself, unlike the professional models that have...
Cooking Done Double-Time
Time is always in short supply, especially for those on the go-go-go. Patient preparation of the evening meal is no longer an option for the average household. With a nod to this hectic lifestyle, TurboChef Technologies has released its 30” Double Wall Speedcook Oven...
Small Kitchen? Not a Problem…
Clever products abound, but some are cleverer than others. Take this space-saving, 3-in-1 Breakfast Maker, for example. Perfect for the short-on-square-footage home, this device combines a coffee maker, a toaster/broiler, and a frying pan, all in a 15.5-inch-wide...
First Alert Smoke Alarm Recall
If you own a First Alert ONELINK Battery-Powered Smoke and Combination Smoke/Carbon Monoxide (CO) Alarms, check out the US Consumer Products Safety Council website for information on the recall of these products. The word is, the units drain their batteries rapidly,...
Fun With Flushing Fish
No, we’re not talking about sending the family goldfish to that big aquarium in the sky. We’re talking about a toilet that doubles as an aquarium. The Fishn’Flush Toilet Tank Aquarium Kit, by Aquaone, is a clear tank aquarium that can be fitted to just about any...
Don’t Own a Home Without It
One of our very favorite fix-it guys has hit the stands with another volume worth buying— Dan Ramsey's The Home Owner's Manual is out and available for purchase. This book is new to the shelves as of March 2006 and features tips, drawings, and solutions for just about...
Dual-Purpose Desk
I definitely have space challenges in my home—office vs. guest room is an ongoing debate. So, when a friend e-mailed this entry, I took notice. Imagine a computer desk that can convert to a bed with a simple pivot. Euro Flyingbeds offers a host of Murphy-bed-like...
Kitchen Nuptials
And the marriage of kitchen appliances continues! Today’s happy couple? The toaster and the microwave. In another space-saving triumph, LG unites these two kitchen-counter neighbors in one compact product—the Stainless Steel Combination Microwave Toaster. Measuring in...
The Hedge Barber
So THIS is why the English have such beautiful hedges. A UK invention, the Garden Groom is a hedge clipper like no other, and it’s now available in the States. As it cuts, it also collects the clippings, leaving you with no pick-up work. With safety features like...
Fast Freeze Your Food
This is one for the kitchen that already has everything. It’s the Anti-Griddle from PolyScience, and it is used to quickly freeze foods placed on its surface. The griddle stays at -30º F, and will almost instantly freeze sauces, creams, and other foods that you might...
New Solar Technology
Homeowners looking to harness solar energy to power the home should keep an eye on California-based Practical Instruments and their prototype—the Heliotube. Built to the same specifications as a traditional solar panel (60” x 42” x 6”), the Heliotube features ten...
A Rainbow in the Shower
Remember those shirts that changed color when warm hands were pressed against them? Well these Moving Color glass tiles take me back. At room temperature, the tiles appear black (or whatever base color you choose—there’s over ten to select from). But as heat is...
Refrigeration by Design
This job can really be too cool. Getting to see the kitchen of my dreams and drool over appliances I could only wish for is a huge benefit—maybe not for my husband, but certainly for me. My newest plan would defintely feature the Gaggenau refrigerator and freezer...
Grill-n-Thrill
Dinner party entertainment just went to a whole new level. With the Cook-N-Dine tabletop cooking table, you can turn an otherwise average dinner into a spectacle, grilling up the meal right before the guests’ eyes. The working part of the unit is a center circle,...
Tile Sink
High-end bath fixtures are the ultimate luxury, in my opinion. The sinks from Linkasink are pieces of art. They can begin as marble or metal and are finished with a mosaic surface of tumbled marble or Venetian glass. The resulting creations are luminescent. Linkasink...
Quick on the Draw
When I hear the words “pump-action,” I think shotgun, not screwdriver. Lee Valley is out to change this with their Autoloader Screwdriver. A handy 6-in-1 tool, the Autoloader holds six different bits, all housed within a clear chamber. To change bits, users need only...
The Ridgid Reputation
Sometimes it's not about the hip and new, but the tried and true. For example, what garage doesn't have a wet vac? Well, it should! My parents' experience in this week's New Hampshire floods is a case in point. Last weekend, I was visiting them in Southeastern New...
The Right Wrench
Why is it the one wrench missing from a set is always the one you need most? Now with LoggerHead Tools’ new Bionic Wrench, a three-piece set does the work of 30 different sizes. The Bionic Wrench removes the guesswork of determining how large a nut or bolt is. Gone...
Get Steamed
I’ve been getting into the raw food thing, as I’ve been told veggies lose much of their nutrients when cooked. Steaming foods lightly is apparently ok, which is why I had to mention this clever product. From Gaggenau, the German manufacturer of high-end appliances,...
Wash ‘N Tan
I’ll be honest—I’m not a HUGE proponent of tanning, unless it’s done naturally, and even then I have my reservations. A tan looks nice and all, but it is FAR from necessary. That said, there are those who do enjoy year-round bronze bodies, and they will probably love...
Hurricane Preparedness Week Info
This week is Hurricane Preparedness Week and everyone from NOAA (National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Agency) to companies like Simonton Windows is putting information and products out there to help our coastal communities live safer. If you live in a...
Hurricane Preparedness Week Info
This week is Hurricane Preparedness Week and everyone from NOAA (National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Agency) to companies like Simonton Windows is putting information and products out there to help our coastal communities live safer. If you live in a...
Steamy Attic Needs to Vent
I love to see products that snub the grid. The Solar Star from Solatube is a solar-powered attic fan that installs in 30 minutes and requires no wiring, no electrician, and no dependence on a thermostat. This “run on the sun” unit battles the heat and moisture that...
You’re Suspended!
If I were stranded on a kitchen island and I could only have one thing, I might choose a suspended seating system by Seating Innovations. While a standard bar stool or island chair might do it for some, I’m taken by SI’s adjustable arm and seat stops, the chair return...
Reinventing the Grill
I am a grilling fiend, and here in Vermont we’ve come upon the real grilling season, which means I’m burning through propane like a Hummer burns petrol. Though I love my grill, I am also like any flame-loving male—I love checking out other grills, especially new...
Glass That Lasts
I don’t have shower glass, because I don’t have a glass-enclosed shower, but I have seen the effects of time on shower glass, and it ain’t pretty. The combined effects of hard water, heat, humidity, and soap can leave spots on, discolor, and corrode that once-clear...
Eye See You, Termites
Termites are high on the list of Insects We Could Do Without. I’d even put them above mosquitoes, primarily due to the damage costs incurred yearly by homeowners nationwide. Termite control is an industry unto itself, and it continually sees new products and means to...
Bathroom Buddy
Sometimes I’m shocked at how I let my toothbrush fall into a state of overuse and obvious unsuitableness for entrance into my mouth. Lucky for me I stumbled upon this must-have unit—and when I say “must-have,” I mean it. Every home should consider having one, for the...
Cooktop Control
The cooks are in the kitchen at Caldera, showing the engineers what a chef craves when it comes to gas-fired cooking. Caldera's new Arrow Series gas cooktops have electronic touch controls that provide 21 preset flame settings for each of five burners. This precision...
Smart Baby Chic
At long last there's a high chair that looks good enough to find a home in high-end remodeled kitchens—the Tripp Trapp baby seat from Stokke. This chair makes tons of sense. Not only is it made from natural materials and adjustable for toddlers small and large, but it...
