June 25, 2010

Finding a Contractor

Homes

A couple of weeks ago, I had the pleasure of talking to Matt Knox, one of the founders of an ingenious Web-based business called DiggersList.com, which launched in 2008. Essentially, the Web site functions as an online source of home improvement classifieds in 30 cities. Now there’s one for New York, and the site will be rolling out in 224 more cities across the country over the next 12-15 months. When I told Matt about my plans for refinishing or replacing my floor and updating my kitchen, he said that a visit to DiggersList.com could help me find a contractor … Read Post

June 24, 2010

Revitalizing Lackluster Wood Floors

Market Watch

Last week, Danny Lipford, the host of Today’s Homeowner, a nationally-syndicated weekly half-hour television show on maintaining and improving homes, was in New York, and I had the opportunity to chat with him about some of the home improvement projects I plan to undertake in my own home. Since Danny is a 30-year veteran in the remodeling business, I hoped to get his input from a cost vs. value standpoint on the changes I want to make. He agreed that if my floor needed improving, then upgrading it should be at the top on my list from a resale perspective. … Read Post

June 23, 2010

The Purest Mattresses on Earth

Interiors

Since buying a new eco-friendly mattress is the #1 priority on my Wish List, I’ve got mattresses on the brain. The most remarkable products I’ve found so far in the course of doing my research are those in the Organicpedic line by a company called Organic Mattresses Inc., otherwise known as OMI. In fact, as far as production purity standards go, OMI’s are as high as they get, according the company’s president, Walt Bader, who is also the author of a book called Toxic Bedrooms (Freedom Press). Walt has good reasons for making the purest, most hygienic mattresses you can buy. … Read Post

June 22, 2010

Green Mattresses Inspired by the Gods

Interiors

In my quest for the perfect mattress, I’ve been doing a lot of homework over the past few weeks. Among the more interesting products I’ve come across are some new mattresses by a Greece-based company called Coco-Mat. I saw them at a launch event at ABC Carpet and met the director of operations, Emmanuel Stefanakis, who gave me some background on the mattresses and invited me to test a few of them out. These mattresses are terrific, not only because they’re made of 100 percent natural materials derived from sustainable sources, but because they can be personalized to suit your … Read Post

June 21, 2010

Healthy Organic Gourmet Food

Epicure

I’ve never met an Indian who doesn’t like Indian food, but I’ve met quite a few who are very particular about how it’s prepared. Among the fussy ones is my husband, Anil, who will only eat Indian dishes prepared with the freshest ingredients, just the right amount of spices (never too much) and minimal oil. A couple of years ago, we had the good fortune of visiting a wonderful boutique hotel/yoga retreat/spa called Ananda in Rishikesh, India, near the foothills of the Himalayas. The yoga classes were terrific, and the organic food was exceptional—so exceptional, in fact, that my husband … Read Post

June 17, 2010

Eco-Friendly Dream House

Homes

A country house in New York City? That’ll catch your eye. And if it’s brimming with eco-friendly ideas like this one is, it’ll capture your imagination, too. The house is actually a sustainable show house developed by Country Living magazine in conjunction with New World Home, a producer of environmentally sensitive housing. I noticed it last weekend near the boat basin in my neighborhood in lower Manhattan, and I walked over to tour it today. What was so appealing about the charming house is that it merges historically inspired design with the latest generation of green building products and furnishings, … Read Post

June 16, 2010

Wood Floor RX

Homes

Before I commit to replacing my worn and damaged hardwood floors, I’ve decided I should explore the less extreme (and less costly) option of repairing or refinishing it, so I called my friends at the World Floor Covering Association to see if they could offer some expert advice. The WFCA is a font of flooring wisdom and can provide you with information on just about anything you’d ever want to know about all kinds of flooring materials. They referred me to Len Daubler, the director of technical services for Anderson Hardwood Floors, a division of Shaw Industries. Len used to … Read Post

June 15, 2010

Plants as Natural Air Purifiers

Outdoors

Most people know that trees and plants enhance the quality of the air outdoors by consuming carbon dioxide, converting it into food for themselves and releasing oxygen as a byproduct into the atmosphere. But new research from the University of Georgia now shows that certain plants are extremely effective at removing harmful volatile organic compounds from indoor air, suggesting they can play a critical role in improving the healthiness of homes and offices, too. I recently spoke to Professor Stanley Kays, one of the authors of the study, and he told me that among 28 plants the research group tested, … Read Post

June 15, 2010

Renovating to Add Value

Homes

Last week, I had the opportunity to speak to Armando Montelongo, a real estate professional and the exuberant host of the A&E television show Flip This House, about the long- and short-term value of making certain home improvements to your home. After a briefly chatting with him about the plans I have for my own home, he told me I was a sea urchin. It wasn’t about name-calling. It’s just the way Armando sized me up based on my personality type, which he says influences how I make important investment decisions, like buying or renovating a home. Since Armando dedicates … Read Post

June 14, 2010

Renovate Your Kitchen to Suit Your Style

Homes

If you’re planning to renovate your kitchen, as I am, then reading Gale Steves’ new book, Right-Sizing Your Home (Northwest Arm Press), is a great place to start. Most of the book is divided into chapters that analyze, room by room, the public and private areas in a home and offer essential advice on crafting spaces to suit the scale of your home—and your lifestyle. One of the most intriguing components of each chapter is a Style Audit that helps you define your lifestyle approach toward any given room and provides design ideas that will support how you actually live … Read Post