It’s no secret that the best place to go for lighting needs in Portland is Sunlan Lighting, Inc., a small, non-descript store on N. Mississippi Avenue, Portland, OR. While the windows of the shop display a jumble of lights, and a retro-looking sign bearing an image of a large, single bulb juts out of the top of the gray-shingled building, the exterior gives little indication of the treasures to be found inside. “We’ve been in this location for 17 years,” says owner Kay Newell. “And if there’s... more

The simplest thing everyone can do to make a difference in global warming is to replace incandescent lightbulbs with more energy-efficient compact fluorescent lightbulbs. These lightbulbs produce more light than heat with the electricity they use. As a result, they can provide the same amount of light as standard incandescent lightbulbs but use only one-quarter to one-third as much energy, and they last up to 10 times longer than incandescent bulbs. Compact fluorescent lightbulbs have come a long... more

For three days in November 2007, over 900 vendors of green and sustainable building materials and services converged on Chicago’s McCormick Place. According to the US Green Building Council’s website (www.greenbuildexpo.com), the “USGBC’s Greenbuild Conference and Expo was an unparalleled opportunity to connect with other green building peers, industry experts, and influential leaders as they shared insights on the green building movement and its diverse specialties.” Many new products... more

What does it mean to re-build green? As with any other home improvement project, the answer comes down to the scope of work and budget. The material choice is where you get to decide how “green” is your garden, or in this case, the kitchen, bath, or other living spaces. Recycle Materials Any environmentally conscious change you make to an existing house can be considered “green.” The goal, as you proceed, is to deconstruct (not demolish) the existing space, reuse or recycle materials wherever... more

Home sellers for years thought that painting the interior of their home beige, gray, or white would help their homes sell faster. Some realtors even suggested painting all the rooms realtor’s beige so that potential buyers could imagine their furniture against the neutral background. But studies show that a room painted a warm color — something with yellow or red in it — actually feels warmer and more inviting than an interior painted cool colors — greens or blues or the neutral colors. And... more

If you’re awaiting a visit from the fabled stork, join the club. There are more than 73 million moms or moms-to-be in the US today, ranging in age from teen years to 40-plus. While each and every one of them is going to need at least one crib, a changing table, and a rocking chair, the demand for baby goods doesn’t stop there. Grandparents also play a major role in spending and “are expected by 2010 to be 80 million strong and spending $35 billion per year on their grandchildren,” says Lauren... more

Not far from the famed Woodburn outlet mall on I-5, just south of Portland, can be found a most amazing Victorian treasure box of a house. The Settlemier House, owned and cared for by the non-profit French Prairie Historical Society, is open to the public on a limited basis. Tours can be arranged that will take you through the house’s grand, mostly original interior. Rooms are furnished with period-appropriate furniture, and many of the Settlemier family’s personal household effects are on display... more

You are having a dream. It’s about your bathroom — it is spacious, sparkling clean, with top-of-the-line amenities at your fingertips. Your toilet never clogs. There is ample storage for all your toiletries and towels. There are even two sinks, with his and her medicine cabinets. Half awake, you stumble down the hall, fling open the door, and click on the light. Reality drips in: You have an ugly bath. In your world, the outdated term “water closet” is all too real. Your bathroom is a smallish... more