Can you recommend a nontoxic bathroom tile grout and sealer? We also need a low-VOC sealer for the bathroom sink.

Aug 11, 2010 Posted Under: Home Improvement On-line  

Answer

This may not be as specific an answer as you would like, but while currently building a home to the EPA Indoor airPLUS construction specifications I discovered that although we have made great strides with paints, we have not come as far with stains and sealers.

I recommend you try the Greenguard website. This site deals with stains and varnishes, but will lead you to manufacturers who are excelling in this area and probably can meet your specific need. These brands are a little off the mainstream path, so you may not have heard of them, but web locators will hook you up with local experts.

For more information:

Read Susan Davis’s Q&A “Are there any manufacturers of nontoxic, non-offgassing bathroom vanities?

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Home Decor: Polka Dot Fabric is popping up everywhere

Aug 10, 2010 Posted Under: Home Improvement Today  

Did you hear the news?  Polka dots are back in fashion, both in clothing and in home decor.  No longer meant for a child’s room, polka dots are popping up on fabric, furniture and accessories for many areas of your home.

  • Polka dots will add a whimsical touch to any room in your home and when used in a sophisticated neutral, like these chairs, they lose all resemblance to a child’s space.

 

  • If you prefer something a bit more “in your face” how about a bright red tablecloth sprinkled with cheery white polka dots; sure to wake you up in the morning. 

  • A subtle dot pattern adds texture and interest to a solid color.  For example, P. Kaufmann off

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How much are we affected by the EMF’s coming from cell phones, microwaves and other electronic equipment? What statistics are there?

Aug 8, 2010 Posted Under: Home Improvement On-line  

Your recent article addressed out-gassing from granite. The EMF’s from cell phones, microwaves and other electronic equipment are much more harmful than granite, but how does it effect us? What studies have been conducted?

Answer

EMF’s also known as Electronic Magnetic Frequency and EMR, Electro-Magnetic Radiation comes in various forms. Electric transmission lines, cell towers, pico towers, DAS systems, even your wi-fi modem in your home and the invisible dog fence in your yard emit radiation.

I cannot address every single type of emission in this one answer so let’s stick with just cell towers and cell phones.

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Bowled Over

Aug 7, 2010 Posted Under: Home Improvement Articles  

What do you think? Yes? No? Interesting conversation piece or just strange? These whirl bowls  at Uncommon Goods are made by Kim Westad, who hand throws them, altering their form by using porcelain. They are safe for food. Each is $58.

Home Decor: What’s new in fabric and paint colors?

Aug 7, 2010 Posted Under: Home Improvement Today  

Just as we get used to the new trends in color and patterns for home decorating “they” add some new ideas.  Who are “they”?; they are the color gurus found at places like The Color Marketing Group  (CMG) and Pantone.  Their job is to forecast the colors that will be popular in both fashion and home design and offer reasons that explain their choices.  For the upcoming fall season they have chosen warm and familiar colors that draw on the previous season’s colors.  This is in keeping with the popular idea of re-using and re-purposing, i.e. do not change

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Are You On Twitter? Follow Apartment Therapy!

Aug 7, 2010 Posted Under: Home Improvement On-line  

   

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