ABC’s of Fine Design

My mother and step dad, with my help have decided to upgrade our propane to electric so they have been out looking at tank less water heaters, stoves and furnaces for the last 2 weeks. Monday they finally bought the tank less and are working on getting it put in. I still think that is the best way to go as it really can cut down on your electric bill.

The good news is they also don’t have to buy a stove as a friend of mine has one she is giving us. upgrading to either electric or just getting new appliances can be expensive at first, but if you can find some cheep or free things it helps, also once you do get everything upgraded the savings will start. I recommend getting new appliances if yours are more then 15 years old or are not an energy star product. In this economy saving money is a big deal and think about it this way, if you are buying new appliances to save you money your also helping the economy buy buying something.

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If you are looking to either save money on your bills this winter or are looking to help increase the value of your home you should really take a look at Tankless Water Heaters. These water heaters work just like a regular water heater except it only turns on when you need the water, this cuts down on energy use as the heater is not running all of the time trying to keep your water warm.

Tankless Water Heaters can save you up to 30% of your energy bill and they come in both electric and gas. You can choose which one you would like or what would work better for you. If your looking at getting one of these energy saving devices I would recommend you talk to someone who can figure out what size you need and if you should invest in more then one. My mother is looking into them and I would recommend she get a large one for most of the house and two small Tankless Water Heaters for her bathtub and the kitchen sink as they are on the other side of the house from the water heater. This also will save you money and time as the water will heat much faster. If your paying for that water you should see a savings there too.

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We use kitchen appliances on a regular bases. Many people make sure that there appliances match the decor of their kitchen and that is why even just helping with appliance choice is a big job for an interior designer.

I decided to check out some of the best appliances out there and figure out what the top 5 are. So here is my list of the Top 5 Kitchen Appliances.

5. Indoor Grill, This is probably the best thing ever invented for the healthy eater. I lived in an apartment where I really couldn’t grill so this was a great alternative. I didn’t like the clean up, but they have made them much easier since then to clean.

4. Blender, You must have at least one of these in your kitchen, they just come in handy so much.

3. Espresso machine , We need our perk up in the morning and what better way to do it.

2. Slow Cookers, This is probably one on my list because I can turn it on, head to class and come home and the food is done and ready to be eaten. Who doesn’t love that

1. Heavy duty mixer, not a little hand held but the big ones. Those are the ones that work and work well. They also come in some great colors so you can leave them out on your counter and not think anything of it.

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Having a well designed home is always a huge health benefit because it makes you feel good to be there, can give you less stress and provides a piece of mind. One thing that most people don’t think about when designing their home is the quality of the air in the home. Air filters help to create a clean environment for you and your family. A good clean filter can keep your family from getting sick, having allergy flare ups and can actually help improve their concentration and energy level. Clean air is important for everyone.

If you already have an air filter you should check it to make sure it’s clean and running properly. If it’s dirty it’s not cleaning the air and all of that dust and other germs are going into your air and onto your furniture, carpet and family. The other reason you want it to be clean is that it will save energy, a clean air filter will run better and more energy efficient then a dirty one.

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I love kitchens and would love to do kitchen design when I’m done with school. One thing that I really love to have in a kitchen are wine racks. Most people drink wine at least once a week now. It’s good for your heart and can help to relax you after a long day.

Wine racks have come a long way since the rack on the counter. Now they are small refrigerators under your counter or above in the upper cabinets. Some people have wine drawers that pull out like a spice rack. It’s really amazing where they put wine racks now. I have also found that some people are using them to store wine they use in cooking. That way it’s right where they need it instead of in a cellar or pantry.

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I learned a lot in my class this term. One thing I found interesting is that Air conditioners don’t actually cool your home like a refrigerator would cool, they just condition the air to a lower temperature. It’s complex and hard to explain but it was still very interesting.

After learning that I started to understand how they could make a Portable Air Conditioner that can be used anywhere. My mother just ordered one for her classroom as they get way to hot during the spring. They have no cross ventilation so she was able to get approval for one. That is a nice thing about these small conditioners you can use them anywhere. I am always thinking about working on homes in hot areas. A portable air conditioner would be a great way to keep things cool until you got the main one set up. The best part is you can then take it with you.

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