This issue’s musings from across the architect’s drawing board ponders how to talk to an architect. When I was in college, which seems like centuries ago, I had two favorite cartoons. One showed a hot dog shaped man opening his mailbox. He was withdrawing an envelope displaying the statement “You may already be a weiner!” The other illustrated a dapper gentleman strutting down the street with cane, beret, and cape. He was flanked by curvaceous supermodels on each arm while another man... more

I am not one to push or tout trends. My belief is that your home should reflect you, your family, your lifestyle, and the way you live in your home. The reality is, as consumers we tend to want a lot of the same things. What’s new in the kitchen for 2010? Not surprisingly, the trends lean toward products that are environmentally responsible and multi-functional, appliances that promote healthy, fresh food preparation, and kitchens that are designed to accommodate personal technology devices. The... more

ECOpdx started out four years ago selling their own custom line of furniture made out of local deconstruction and storm damage woods. Soon after they added the Tropical Salvage line of furniture made from 100% recycled handcrafted tropical woods pulled out of rivers and volcanic pits in Indonesia. Owned and operated by three friends, Darren and Patricia Morgan and Brian Kelly, ECOpdx is a business founded on the belief that quality craftsmanship and personal attention are the cornerstones... more

Most people will agree that a period house looks best with a period kitchen, and that a period kitchen looks best with period stoves. With that in mind, homeowners who are considering vintage stoves usually still have a few basic questions about them, “Are vintage stoves practical?” “Will a vintage appliance have enough capacity?” and “Who will service vintage appliances, can parts be found, and are old appliances safe?” Kim and Roy Fox’s 1915 stove, restored by Dave Erickson. Joan... more

OK. It’s cold out. I’m sitting here, inside my cozy little brick house and there is a nice frost out on a sunny late fall morning. I finally turned on the furnace and lit the fireplace. When I go out, I will wear a beret and a scarf. I will probably make a pot of soup for dinner. I love this time of year. Hens and Chickens Now that there is a bit of a chill in the air, I bet you think that the gardening season is over. Au contraire! There is so much you can do during the winter months, it is... more

Spokane County, WA became the launch pad last July for the nation’s strictest ban on dishwasher detergent made with phosphates, a measure aimed at reducing water pollution. The ban will be expanded statewide in July 2010, the same time similar laws take effect in several other states. Among other states that have banned or are banning phosphates in dishwasher detergent are Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Michigan, Vermont, Minnesota, Illinois, Massachusetts, and New York. A bill on Capitol Hill... more

I am lucky. I admit it. I am lucky enough to get to go to Paris once a year to visit the Maison et Objet show. This show is one of the world’s biggest furniture and accessories markets. This year is my second trip to this show and I found it to be just as exciting, if not more so, than the first. We started off in the outdoor section where I needed to visit with a bunch of my vendors, and meet with some new ones. EMU (www.EMU.it) had a stunning booth, as usual — lots of white wire and powder... more

Home renovators who purchase an energy-efficient refrigerator, washer, dryer, or other qualifying home appliance may be eligible to receive a $50 to $200 rebate from the federal government. The money is available through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act — also known as the stimulus package. But the bigger reward offers homeowners a tax credit that can add up to thousands of dollars for qualifying home improvements that increase energy-efficiency. Energy-efficient products are “not just... more