The bathroom fan has come a long way in just the past year. With the introduction of the dual-sensor fan that monitors both humidity and motion, the bathroom fan has become mostly automatic. For many years the bath fan was turned on like a light with a switch or a timer. Now the Panasonic WhisperSense fans come on only when moisture or motion in the bathroom is detected. It saves energy by not working when it is not needed. Why operate the fan when there is no moisture, and you are not there? By... more

When Ian Fleming said, “beauty is a question of millimeters,” he wasn’t talking about bathroom remodels. But when it comes to the small bathrooms typical of most homes, beauty and function is sometimes a question of millimeters. So when you renovate, you want to be mindful of the details. If you get them right, you can transform a cramped bathroom into an appealing, high-functioning, and spacious part of your home without adding a single foot to the existing room dimensions. This is just a... more

Selecting a kitchen sink while trying to achieve the appropriate look for a period kitchen can be a huge challenge. There is just so much misinformation and misleading marketing out there. It is often very difficult for homeowners to know what is correct for their specific period. Many of the ads, images, and plumbing stores insist that clay-fired farm sinks (also referred to as apron front sinks) are “historic.” Though they are indeed historic, this is an English style of kitchen sink rather... more

Wow! That’s what all of us long to hear and feel about our decor, be our home small or grand or somewhere in between. And the good news is that goal is easily accomplished. All it takes is putting aside our fear of color (especially in the Pacific Northwest, where taupe passes for a jewel tone) and the knowledge that little things loom large. This is just a preview...Read the rest... Read More →

One of my favorite things to do at the end of a long day is to relax in a long hot shower. As one who, as a child, was taught the environmental benefits of a “military shower,” the occasional long hot shower is a luxury to me. Unfortunately the long shower sometimes becomes an opportunity to notice just how badly my shower needs to be redone. This is just a preview...Read the rest... Read More →

Nothing compares to the natural warmth and beauty of wood cabinets, floors, and trim in the home. But over time, dirt build-up, wear and tear, and age-discolored finishes make wood look flat and lifeless. It used to be that once woodwork in the home reached the point where it looked terrible, the options were limited to stripping, sanding, and refinishing, or completely removing and replacing with new. Neither solution is very attractive to anyone mindful of the expense and environmental impact.... more

In most kitchens, it seems that everything behind the first row in the pantry gets lost and falls into a black hole, never to be found again. Are you always looking for those items you know are there but cannot seem to find? If you want to use your mixer, you have to get on your hands and knees to unbury it. There has to be a better way. There is! This is just a preview...Read the rest... Read More →

Kohler Karbon Kitchen Faucet With five pivoting joints, the Karbon articulation faucet offers total range of motion, putting water exactly where it needs to be. Now featuring an extended palette that includes Bronze, Polish and Brushed Gold, and Black with polished Chrome. Available in deck and wall mounts units. This is just a preview...Read the rest... Read More →