Selasa, 30 Desember 2008

Pac-Man Bathroom

According to a recent survey conducted by Nokia, 53 percent of Americans have taken a work-related call or email in the bathroom. Although the data has been lost, we conducted a survey in the past that found the percentage could be even higher. So what does this all mean? I think the answer is clear...we want to work in the bathroom. Yeah, it sounds gross but consider this: many of us do our best thinking in the bathroom. Our productivity could skyrocket (in more ways than one). So, I say why fight it. Here are some gadgets to help you get started on your own bathroom-based home office.

Boom Arm Starbase Workstation: Okay let's start with the basics. You are going to need a way to mount your laptop so that it is easily accessible from the toilet. This swing arm should do the job nicely—plus it is height adjustable and comes with a built-in cupholder. Yeah, that's right—a cupholder. You're already working in the bathroom, eating and drinking are not far behind. [easychairworkstation via Link]

The Loo Read: Having a full-on desk in there is going to take up too much space, but you still need a flat surface to spread out paperwork now and then. In that case, the Loo Read has you covered. It may even be sturdy enough to support light or ultraportable laptops. [Link]

Fish n' Flush Toilet: As for the throne itself, you are going to need something a little better than your standard toilet. This particular version uses half its reservoir to create a fish tank—which is perfect for reducing stress at work. Although, I would go easy on the coffee and beef for a while. Reducing the amount of available water in the tank means less capacity for flushing. [Fish n' Flush via Link]

Moody Aquarium Sink: If you would prefer, the aquarium concept is also available in a sink version. [Home Click via Link]

Dell Latitude XFR D630: I suppose it goes without saying, but if you are going to work in the bathroom you will need a laptop that can handle the occasional splash of water. The Dell Latitude XFR D630 can do that and much more. In fact, it meets Department of Defense MIL-STD 810F standards for operation in extreme temps, moisture and altitude. Plus, the specs are decent with a Core 2 Duo processor, 14.1-inch / 500nit screen, 802.11n, and high-end thermal management for the processor and RAM running on XP. [Dell via Link]

MarineAV 70-inch LCD TV: If you are going to get a waterproof display, you might as well go all out with Marine AV's 70-inch TV. It features full 1080p resolution, a 1,500:1 contrast ratio, 600cd/m2 brightness, 8ms response time, 178 degree viewing angle, and AV, S-Video, Component, HDMI, PC (VGA) inputs. [MarineAV via Link]

Wall Mirror TV/PC: There are plenty of mirror TVs out there, but manufacturers are also starting to throw PCs in to the mix as well. The "ARCO" falls into this category with an all-in-one PC, TV and LCD embedded behind mirrored glass. [AVING via Link]

Sonim XP1 Cellphone: A waterproof cellphone in another must-have. The Sonim is rugged enough to handle a beer dunking / car mauling quite easily and even being smashed for weeks on end. The XP1 is a Europe-only release, but an American version is already on its way. [Sonim]

Potty Putter: Indoor putting surfaces are a staple of any office, and so it shall be with your bathroom version. The Potty Putter allows you to sink putts and deuces at the same time. [Baron Bob via Link]

Toilet Vacuum: It's always a good idea to have a desk vac around to handle small cleaning jobs around the office, and none would be appropriate than this toilet-shaped version. [Link]

Bonus: If you are looking for a little inspiration on what a home office bathroom should look like, consider the following examples:

Bathroom Office: Here is an example of a basic setup. The equiptment is old school, but the comfy looking executive toilet is a nice touch.

Roto-Rooter's Pimped Out John: Last year Roto-Rooter ran a contest that rewarded the winner with the ultimate bathroom gadget setup. It came complete with an Xbox 360, 20-inch LCD TV, laptop, TiVo, refrigerator with beer tap, bike pedal exerciser and more. [Kotaku]

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Minggu, 14 Desember 2008

Todd Devine Homes

Todd Devine Homes brings a 20 year reputation for creative design, dependable construction and outstanding customer service to every home we build.

We’re widely known and respected as specialists in granny flats and relatives’ unit, bungalows, dependant persons unit (DPU), home builders and home designs, games room, Lifestyle units, transportable home, beach and country homes, relocatable park homes and Tourist accommodation cabins. Depending on location, homes can be prebuilt and transported to site, built on site as a transportable, or simply built on site.

Come and browse our online showroom, where you’ll find dozens of very liveable designs from classic to contemporary, from very affordable homes to beautifully luxurious homes. If you don’t find exactly what you want, we’ll modify designs to meet your own unique needs or property requirements.

We’ll advise you to ensure that plans comply with 5-star energy ratings, so come and visit our granny flats, relatives’ units, transportable homes, relocatable park homes and tourist accommodation. The welcome mat is out right now!

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Senin, 01 Desember 2008

Bathroom Renovation - Selecting A Bathroom Suite

Do you want to give an elegant look to your bathroom? With the help of modern accessories and designer furniture you can completely change your bathroom. Modern bathroom items increases functionality as well as enhance the beauty of the bathroom. Washroom renovation does not need much time. Nowadays people are opting for modern bathroom suites. A bathroom suite includes almost everything you need in your bathroom. It is a good idea to plan the budget before you buy something new. It will help you in saving some money. Modern bathroom is used as a relaxing zone. Bathroom suite comes with luxury accessories.

It is a good idea to opt for a sauna shower. A sauna shower emits vapors which gives a refreshing feeling. Nowadays bathrooms can be renovated very fast. With the help of bathroom suites you can give an elegant look to your bathroom. Bathroom suite can be fitted with the help of a professional. A professional can help you a lot in every aspect of a bathroom renovation project. He can help you in deciding the theme and design of your washroom. He can also help you in planning a budget. It is a good idea to discuss all your expectation with the interior designer. Bathroom accessories you buy should match the theme of your bathroom.

Bathroom renovation project needs lot of time and money. It is a good idea to find all the available information about bathroom construction. Always remember that a washroom reflects lifestyle of a person.

If you want to know more about Bathroom Suites then feel free to visit Bella Bathrooms.

Kamis, 06 September 2007

Bathroom Sinks or Basins

Bathroom sinks or basins come in many forms these days, and have a variety of installation applications. In addition to all of those options, the materials from which bathroom sinks or basins are made are also very diverse.

Types of bathroom sinks or basins

1. Freestanding sinks-Freestanding sinks can either be mounted on the wall or they can be mounted in a base that is not attached to the wall.

Wall mounted sinks come in choices as well. There are single sinks, double sinks, and those that can be mounted in a corner to save space.

The base mounted versions can be fancy or utilitarian, vintage looking or contemporary and everything in between. Some come with flat tops, some have backsplashes that although they are not mounted to the wall, they meet the wall.

There are also base mounted sinks where the sink drops into a frame on legs. Some of these are found in wrought iron, some stainless steel and other materials as well.

All of the above are attractive and unique, the drawback is that they offer little storage, and in some cases no surface space for grooming supplies.

2. Vanity mounted bathroom sinks-Vanity mounted sinks came into being when the overall size of housing shrank, and bathrooms in particular became smaller.

Vanity mounted sinks can be self rimming. This is a sink where the rim is on top of the counter.

The rimmed sink sits flat with the countertop and has a metal rim that seals it to the countertop.

The under-mounted sink is installed from below and requires the countertop to withstand water.

3. Integrated bathroom sinks-feature a one piece unit. The sink is a part of the countertop and molded in. This application often has indentations for holding a soap bar and usually also a built in backsplash.

The advantage to the one piece integrated bathroom sink is there are no seams to gather dirt and grime, making them easy to keep clean.

Which application of bathroom sink you choose depends on the bathroom, and on personal choice.

Discover more of Illa's expert tips about vanities and sinks, as well as advice on bathroom flooring.

Bathroom Interior Design Ideas

There are certain things that you should consider when you think of your bathroom interior design. First, think of the structure of your bathroom. Does it have lots of visible pipes? Can it be covered or changed? What type of sanitary wares will fit in the bathroom?

Second, in designing your bathroom interior you should consider your water supply and its performance. You should be aware of the type of water that you receive. Are you in an area where heated water is available? Is the water pressure high or low? The type of shower needed will base on this, though lately there are innovations made with showers where water pressure and is not a problem anymore.

Third, check your preference for the bathroom interior design. Will it be contemporary or retro? Minimalist sanitary wares are the latest design for now. It complements bathroom which are less spacious. You can also incorporate designs from both eras; just make sure that there is unity in the design.

Color and textures is the biggest factor that matters when you are designing your bathroom. General color of the bathroom can make your day. Bright and cool colors like yellow can boosts and invigorate your day while darker and warm colors does otherwise.

The wall colors will make the room look bigger and it can also make it smaller depending on what you use. Dark and warm colors produce an intimate ambiance in bigger rooms while cool colors produce an idea of space.

Texture of the bathroom goes with the tiles which are used. Large tiles make smaller bathrooms look bigger because it forms an illusion of size. It is also recommended that you have a full-tiled bathroom if you have a powerful shower because the steam it will produce will concentrate on the walls causing the walls to moist.

You can always experiment on your bathroom interior design. You can base the designs from those found in the magazines or through the internet. You can always start with the basic and later on expand with what you think is lacking. What is important is that you have the basic fixtures and sanity wares to call it a bathroom.

Bathroom Shower Water Filters Can Leave Your Skin and Hair Healthy and Clean

The advantages of bathroom shower water filters are numerous and, in some cases, surprising. Most of the advantages stem from their ability to remove the effects of a single chemical from your water. That chemical is chlorine.

To grasp the effects of chlorine, you just need to remember the last time you swam in a pool. Imagine getting home and feeling the dryness of your skin, the brittleness of your hair, and the slight tightness in your lungs from having breathed the chlorine that was aerated into the atmosphere as the water from the pool evaporated.

Now imagine your daily shower, where that same chlorine exists in your water. Without a bathroom shower water filter, your daily shower still causes the same dryness and irritation to your skin, lungs, and hair over time, even though the chlorine that flows from your tap is in smaller amounts than the swimming pool.

Add to that the fact that unless you’re an Olympic swimmer, you probably shower much more often than you swim, exposing you to these smaller doses every day, and it becomes clear that the cumulative effects of chlorine on your body are an ever present problem. Many people simply adjust by buying expensive shampoos and conditioners, asthma and allergy medicines, .and moisturizing lotions.

What some people don’t realize is that they could much more easily and more cost effectively install one of the bathroom shower water filters on the market and circumvent the need for these extra products, not to mention eliminating the problems at their source rather than just treating the symptoms.

How does chlorine wreak this havoc on our bodies? First of all, chlorine destroys the natural oils in our skin and hair that help to protect the delicate skin cells from the damage of sun, dust, and air contaminants. These oils also help keep skin young and healthy, preventing wrinkles and other signs of aging. Our skin is the largest organ on our bodies, and studies show that twice as much of the chlorine that enters our bodies does so through the skin as through our drinking water.

Health authorities are now seeing connections between chlorine absorption and certain types of cancer, asthma, and dermatological problems. These protective oils are also present in our hair and nails, which suffer the same damage as our skin without the benefits of a bathroom shower water filter.

The air contamination caused by chlorine is not as noticeable in the shower as it is at the pool, but since we shower so much more frequently, the inhalation of chlorine happens more frequently. The connection between chlorine as an air pollutant and asthma is especially disturbing.

Chloroform, the gaseous form of chlorine, has been noted by the E.P.A. to be a measurable contaminant in all homes without bathroom shower water filters. Studies have used this as well as medical data to explain in part the rampant increase in asthma cases in the U.S. in the last thirty years. Installing a purifier, then, not only cleans the water but the air as well.

The best part of having a filtration system is that it is incredibly inexpensive – all of the water that one receives from the filter costs only 10 cents per gallon. With modern technological advances, bathroom shower water filters are also easy to maintain and durable.

Martin Spencer is a health researcher who has been studying water filtration for over 25 years. He is a regular contributor to Water Filtration Guide, a site dedicated to various methods of treating and purifying water. Learn about a bathroom shower water filter and whole house units on our site.

Why Remodel If You Can Decorate?

Remodeling a bathroom is one of the most common home improvement projects because homeowners prefer a toilet and bath area where they can relax after a hard day's work. A bathroom redo can be an inexpensive and fun way to spruce up your entire house. The bathroom can also be one of the least expensive rooms in your house to overhaul, which can allow you to bring a touch of luxury and comfort to a room that sees plenty of use.

Do it yourself bathroom remodeling projects don't have to be complicated; something as simple as replacing fixtures can enhance the overall appearance of the bathroom. Sometimes a bathroom simply requires a coat of paint to make it look like a new room, but if a more extensive upgrade is needed, there are ways to control bathroom remodeling costs.

Regardless of your budget, one thing you need to consider in planning the job is that at some point in the future you may decide to sell your house. Ask yourself if the remodel will add to the value of your home, or make potential buyers run screaming from your house.

Bathroom Decorating Ideas

Redecorating your bathroom with original and modern ideas can brighten up a cold and uninviting room. If it is time for a bathroom makeover, count yourself lucky when you see the amount of wonderful, contemporary decorating ideas for the bathroom today. Scan home decorating magazines, look on the internet, or visit your local home center to see an abundance of great ideas.

Common bathroom decorating ideas include adding or replacing light fixtures. While choosing lights may be a daunting task, be aware that the perfect lighting can enhance your bathroom's theme and make a dramatic improvement to the overall feel of the room.

Mirrors in a bathroom not only serve a genuine purpose, they can also make a room look larger and can be a good reflection on you and your decorating taste. Large mirrors may be dressed with window treatments. One colorful idea is to decorate bathroom mirrors with window scarves. Draped high over the top of the mirror and allowed to hang evenly down both sides, window scarves can add a color accent to a bland room.

If your bathroom decorating ideas include furniture, accessories and other decorations, make sure to mix and match the items before placing all of your chosen items in the room. While you may think that an item can give life to the bathroom, it may not complement other items. While it is easy to add soaps, toothbrush holders, and other bathroom accessories, small furniture, tiny collectibles and other displays may not easily complement your bathroom's theme. For this reason, you should pick your items carefully to give a harmonious feel to the room.

If you prefer to get more expensive bathroom accessories, be aware of how often they will be used. Expensive bathroom accessories are most useful for guest bathrooms, while it is a good idea for family bathrooms to have less expensive bathroom accessories. Keep in mind how you want your bathroom to look as well as how often your family and guests will wear and tear your bathroom accessories.

When it comes to your bath, this is a great opportunity to bring some whim and creativity to a room that you spend plenty of time in.

If You Need to Remodel

If you find that a remodel is necessary, to be successful, you need to design your remodeling project accurately before you swing a single hammer. When you are working on the design for your bathroom remodeling project, make sure to take accurate measurements of your bathroom and create a map that you can work with. If you mark where the plumbing and fixtures are, you'll be able to better plan what you need to do. The key to successful bathroom remodeling design is good planning, and a map is a great way to keep you focused on exactly where everything needs to be.

Although many people ignore buying a toilet when they need to, I suggest embracing toilet-buying. If your toilet is really old or does not match your décor as you would like it to, then buy a new toilet! Be sure that the toilet you find is one that will last for a long time. If you want to sit on a throne that is truly made for royalty, consider a self-serve toilet. This modern idea in bathroom decorating will heat the seat for you, and give you a thorough cleansing and deodorizing when the job is done. You will even receive a warm, drying finish for the highest level of hygiene. No need for flushing either, because the toilet will flush itself when you are finished. It will even close the lid to prepare for the next user. There is no better example of luxury, comfort, and functionality colliding for maximum homeowner benefit.

Once you are satisfied with the project, enjoy the long-term benefit from the investment you made. There is no greater joy to a house owner then to remodel, and especially enlarge, a special room such as the bathroom.

Steve Dolan has undertaken extensive home remodelling over the past 10 years. Learn how to take on remodelling projects Home Remodelling and DIY and redo your bathroom Bathroom Remodelling and Decorating