For years when we were both designing new floor plans and looking at kitchen design in existing homes,we discussed what was called the "work triangle" or "efficiency triangle". What is this concept? The idea of a work triangle is that all the work areas are just a few steps from each other, 4-9 feet apart, and that the good workflow in these areas creates more [...]
Well, it is summer in Texas and hot as hot can be! With the heat and no rain to speak of, the lawns, landscaping and gardens are really suffering. If you want to keep them watered and also care about protecting our precious water supply, here are a few helpful hints: For your lawn itself, water in the late evening or early morning hours to [...]
Since we are just getting ready to go into the hottest time of the year in North Texas, it is a great time for you to consider ways to save energy and money in your own home. Since working to save energy is a lot cheaper than creating it, it makes sense to conserve this precious commodity, protect the environment and save money at the [...]
Have you heard about a new technology for washing machines which uses both water and steam to better clean your laundry? Steam works as a partner to water in the different phases of washing the clothing to keep the fabrics softer and containing less wrinkles. By adding steam to a pre-wash cycle of the washing process, the garments are soaked more thoroughly. When introduced into [...]
If you are considering doing a kitchen remodel that includes replacing old or dated countertops, there are so many choices to look at today! Although, many homeowners do choose granite, there seems to be a bit of a shift away from granite to other selections. You might want to consider a popular alternative and that is quartz. Quartz Countertops come in many colors, are practical [...]
If you have been looking, you will notice that hands-free or electronic faucets like the one above are everywhere! In kitchens where a lot of cooking takes place is where we have seen them first emerge. A few of the advantages include being able to rinse off hands, dishes and food without spreading germs to the handles on the faucet. Check out the MoenSense [...]
Nearly everyone today knows that protecting our environment around us also helps protect the precious resources of our planet. Many of us drive cars with higher gas mileage and less emissions, use environemtally friendly products at home, use LED light bulbs and many of us have started recycling. If you have started doing recycling with the help of your city garbage services, that is a [...]
A new water heater is something that home owners find themselves replacing after about 10-15 years, from newly installed, with the average age being 10.7 years. The US Department of Energy suggests that homeowners begin to research new water heaters at about the 7th birthday of their current unit, just so they are prepared in case the water heater fails. This one house component accounts for [...]
If you have a small bathroom or powder room and would love it to "seem" larger, there are some tips that you can use to have the effect of a larger room. 1. Use a large mirror to make the space "appear" larger. 2. Keep the floors free of clutter and use a free-standing pedestal or wall hung sink to give more floor space. You [...]
1. Your fridge use accounts for 20% of a home's energy use each year, so adjust the thermostat to 37 degrees in the refrigerator and 3 degrees in the freezer. If you have an energy saver, make sure it is on and look at the gasket around the door to make sure it is sealing properly. 2.When you use your washing machine, opt for either warm [...]