Custom Ultra thin flat screen TV media center

Do you ever wish that you could visit a website called Gapple? Or Apoogle? These two tech giants are constantly facing off with regard to technology, and it’s tough to determine who the current frontrunner is when it comes to their products. One day you’re a Mac. The next, a PC. It’s tiring. And since ¾’s of the population isn’t fortunate enough to have dual operating systems in their homes, we find ourselves identifying with one versus the other.Enter Google and Apple in the TV world. Wonderful. They’ve found yet another way to put a wedge between themselves and confuse the common consumer with products that are seemingly similar.

So, what’s the deal with Google TV and Apple TV? Are they the same thing with different makeup on? Is this a Coke versus Pepsi issue? Or are they really not the same thing at all? Here’s the scoop on the who, where, when, what, why and how.

Who: If you’re a tech junkie, you love upgrading your in-home experience and having the latest toys. These devices are sleek. They do cool things. They look great on the coffee table. And you want one! But do you know why? More on that in a few.

What: Without further ado, let’s chat about the fundamental differences with these devices. Apple TV is a digital media receiver that redirects content from iTunes, YouTube, Flickr, and MobileMe to your TV. You can watch movies and TV shows, listen to music, and show off your vacation photos to a standing-room only crowd at your next party… That’s where the buck stops though. Google TV, on the other hand, is a software platform. Simply put, it’s like your computer had kids with your TV. With Google TV, you can download 3rd party apps like Twitter, Facebook, or MSNBC, and your TV screen becomes an extension of your computer monitor. Google TV is customizable, whereas Apple TV is not, and also features a picture-in-picture (PIP) capability if you’re surfing the web and catching up on HGTV at the same time (busted!)

When: Both Google TV and Apple TV make it possible to watch whatever you want virtually whenever you want. We like this.  It helps for those days when you drank too much coffee and can’t sleep at 3:47 am.

Where: Neither of these devices are mobile, meaning they’re something you will set-up in your home on a particular TV and keep there. Is your home outfitted with a TV in every room? If so, either option will be an expensive prophecy, as a unique Google or Apple device is required for each TV, and there is no way to split them like traditional cable. (anybody know a hack?)

Why: You’re cool. We’ve established that. And you want the same up-to-the-minute technology that you read about on tech blogs. Both Google TV and Apple TV bring another dimension to home entertainment, and for movie buffs and people who are tired of having to DVR shows or buy expensive movies on pay-per-view, either of these options makes a lot of sense. They bring what you want to you when you want it, kind of like an entertainment butler.

How: Apple TV is a small receiver box that sends content from your computer to your TV. It’s a cinch to set-up, and the audio and video quality is better at 720p than Google TV is at 1080p. Google TV takes more patience to get running, and you need a Logitech keyboard, Sony-equipped TV, or a DISH box to make this dream a reality, but once it’s up and running, the possibilities are endless regarding what you look at on-screen. The most important question to ask yourself is, “What am I planning to do with this technology?” Your answer will help determine whether you’re a Googler or if an Apple a day will keep your techno obsession at bay. If all else fails, get one of each and really impress your house guests.

Do you have Apple TV or Google TV?  How do you like it?  Sound off below! Reporting live from my PC, back to you.

Listen…  If you’ve got a perfectly organized kitchen, this conversation might not be for you.  I mean, you can read along, but you may be shocked at what you’re hearing.  If Martha Stewart’s color-coordinated  kitchen perfection has been mastered in your home, well… I’m going to need a picture to see the proof.  (seriously, please share in the comments)

For the rest of us, kitchens are one of the hardest working rooms in a house – serving so many functions at once for so many people.  Breakfast on the fly, lunch packing for multiple people – somebody’s picky, somebody eats gluten free – somebody threw a spoon full of yogurt at the dog!   Coffee and dishes,  people cruising around in the same space like bumper boats at a carnival – and everybody’s got a different agenda.

Forget housekeeping, evening meals, and washing up after dinner.  Your dishes look like the Leaning Tower of Pisa – you never did figure out why they sit so sideways in the cabinet …  and God help you with the sippy cups, bottles, dishes, and glasses!  Whatever somebody else needs always seems to be exactly where you’re standing! Sheeeeeeeeeeeesh.

If you’re lucky enough to have a live-in relative,  a housekeeper, or a nanny cruising around too – well kitchen mess surely exponentiates with every person that has to successfully function out of this little room-o.

We’ve all been there.  Who has time to sort all the crap out of the cupboards and fix all the woefulness?  Here are a few things I’ve learned about keeping the Kitchen organized:

Purge. Nothing creates new energy in a kitchen like releasing the old.  Have a drawer full of take-out seasoning packets, chopsticks, and forks?  Do you avidly keep every plastic container from Whole Foods so you can save the planet while sending friends home with leftover quinoa? Figure out what you actually use, have the proper lid for, and have room to store – and shed the rest to a recycling bin near you.

Purchase. If it’s been a while since you’ve had a single dish that matches in the kitchen it might be time to do yourself a solid and get some new ones.  Practically speaking, mismatched dishes and glasses don’t always stack well and they take up more room – impractically speaking they can really drive you nuts visually too!  Dishes don’t have to be expensive either – (hello, Recession?) the various sets below all came from Target for a client with two little girls.

If you have the room, think about buying more than the standard set of eight, ten, or twelve of certain items.  Only you know what your family goes through most frequently, but most Moms crank through small bowls, plates, and cups for kids pretty fast.  Get a few more dishes – spend more time playing Angry Birds with the kids, less time standing at the sink.  You know you want to…

Partition. Older cabinetry often divides pantry space in a way that doesn’t coordinate with the size of anything you own.  Seriously.  So do yourself a favor and hit Container Store, Bed Bath and Beyond etc. and grab some shelf & drawer organizers.  Things stay put a lot better when they have actual spots to be organized into.  Who knew?

Post. If you want to be a bold, bold kitty – once you’ve sorted through what you want to keep, and gotten coordinating dishes and separated Church and State, try labeling where you want things to live.  It’s a great social experiment! See if it helps everyone keep things where they belong or if your family calls mutiny.

What helps you stay sane in your kitchen?

Hey! I’m really excited to share that we were featured by the lovely Grace at  Design*Sponge for a DIY herringbone entryway paint job.  The full article, including detailed How-To instructions can be found here.  If you don’t know Design*Sponge, take thyself to their site immediately – get a cup of coffee, plant yourself for a few hours.  It’s addictive!

It’s been kind of redonkulous (hey.. even my Mom says it) around here lately, which is the only (lame!) excuse I have for such a delayed response to this fun post going up in… gulp… September!

Yes, yes, it’s a crime of Dastardly Social Media Proportions not to have slathered this all over myself with butter the week this came out – getting featured on Design*Sponge is a huge deal!

I can only blame it on my awesome clients for occupying me so fully with their cool projects.                    Heh. (you know who you are…..)

Regarding the project: It was easier than I’d have ever expected to do this entire project – took me less than one day and cost about $60.  I mean… who doesn’t love total change in a space for $60 and some elbow grease?

The only part that required a little thought was taping off the sections, but I actually drew it out a few times to see what I liked.  I ended up making a wider chevron pattern so it wouldn’t be TOO busy… it is a small space.

Anne at MilkPaint was kind enough to donate a sample of their new SafePaint for walls (totally non-toxic, rich and interesting paint for projects that need some ‘history’ added) in Light cream.

It was so easy to mix – and if you let it stand for a while before you use it, it thickens up nicely.

Then off to the races! I was super impatient to see the results… I could totally imagine how this would come out but I do love me a reveal!

What do you think?

xo!

]]> http://www.improvemental.com/2010/12/were-featured-on-designsponge/feed/ 7 http://www.improvemental.com/2010/12/wondering-what-colors-work-in-a-mid-century-home-try-food-colors/ http://www.improvemental.com/2010/12/wondering-what-colors-work-in-a-mid-century-home-try-food-colors/#comments Wed, 08 Dec 2010 04:48:05 +0000 Improvemental http://www.improvemental.com/?p=328

Some things never grow old. I am still overly delighted with the first wear on a new pair of socks.  I dig 50′s juice pitchers at the Flea Market, every time.  I get giddy over a fresh set of Crayola Crayons – the 64 Pack – and love, love, love the way my office feels after it’s been organized by a professional.

I also never get tired of noodling on colors.  I love thinking about color combinations, pondering what’s right for a room, what’s historically accurate, and why certain stuff works. This project below was one of my favorites –  a family home we remodeled like mad in a canyon nearby. When you really look at the delicious colors in the family room below they evoke foody feelings. Don’t you think?

There’s some sort of pumpkin pie, chocolate, whipped cream thing happening for sure… either that or I’m officially hungry. Post Thanksgiving, Pre-Christmas always feels very home-centric for me – and all about foods I don’t normally even eat.

I highlighted some harvesty colors in the space that make it feel very Mid-Century. In actuality, a lot of the colors from this time period are a little more pastel/sun-faded than these, but I reserve the right to see the world the way I want to…

Errrm… ok. So wet plaster isn’t even remotely close to a food.  I know – I should have tried harder before I hit publish, but I couldn’t think of a foody name for this color!!  And that’s honestly what wet plaster looks like (trust me – saw some in a leaky ceiling last week –  and it’s definitely not edible, friend-o)

Wanna know what Crayola 64 has to say about these colors? You know somebody gets paid a lot of money to eat bonbons and test out color names for their crayons…

Nothing in the 64 crayon box matches this color, foody sounding or otherwise.

What food would YOU associate the last color with?

A windy weather day in LA leads to lots of junk in the pool.

Anyone here in LA could tell you that this Summer (DID we have a Summer this year??) had some oddball weather.  Anyone trying to get anywhere this today got blown away (and not in a good way) by strong wind gusts zipping across town.  Power lines went down, 1920′s windows rattled, and shrubbery everywhere shook in their roots.  My power has gone out twice in this post!

Dramatic, you say? Yeah, a little. (ok, I’m dramatic….) Until I peeked at a pool.

This is a seriously unhappy pool filter.

The popularity of SoCal living makes efficient property useage a big deal. To stake our claim, we use every inch of our yards –  and use them in the most creative ways. Many city and valley homeowners add in large hedges for privacy — especially around outdoor living spaces like backyards and pools- (hello, bikini and swim trunk prancing BBQ, anyone?)

Over time, and with good watering, these hedges can add huge property value and privacy, but can have some unfortunate consequences to plumbing, foundations, and pools. Back to the weather. 35 mile per hour winds unexpectedly shaking these hedges can throw off some serious leaves and dust.  Today is no exception. Peering into a Hollywood backyard with tall ficus hedges, I saw a very unhappy pool and filter – and a lot of potential problems too.

Hedge is the messy pool filter culprit – busted!

Lots of people have a pool man that comes to take care of their pool and spas– Pools can be a serious investment.  If not, send your teenager (or husband? dog?) out to do the job.  We all run the risk of expensive equipment repair and service when we don’t also ‘self-police’ the condition of the pool, and request a little TLC when needed– i.e. call your pool man if you think you need a professional cleaning job, people!

When a pool filter is full of leaves and debris, it can’t properly continue to filter the water- causing the pump to continually run.  It sounds distressed (grumble grumble, cough – slurp) and sucks a lot of air through the system.  A sign of a full filter basket in your pool is lots of little air bubbles coming to the surface.

Air bubbles on the surface mean it’s time to clean the filter!

Needless to say, burning out a pump is NOT a fun home repair expense!

It’s the little things that keep home systems in operating order, and save us all big bucks in major repairs.  Have a question? Email us here and we’ll help.  Oh, and go clean your filter!

A heartfelt breakup letter from the trenches:

Oh knobby faucet… you’re not as awful as you could be – it could be worse! You could leak, or make a lot of noise at inopportune times. You’re better than that, but you kind of know we’re not right for each other. I’ve outgrown you…

Let’s face it – cleaning up was never your specialty.  In the last few months, you never lifted a finger. I can’t be with you if you refuse to work!

I’ll admit, from the start I’ve felt a vague sense of separation. It’s like you never gave me all of yourself! You kept a little part of yourself walled off.

Ugh – and there’s nothing stylish about you – at times you’re just so square! and well… fragile.

I don’t even wanna talk about the ‘heat’ department. No heat here! It’s just all fizzled out.  I could cry just thinking about how frustrated I am… I think we ran out of juice.

You may feel a little hollow after this, sort of empty inside. That’s normal after such a long relationship. I know we’ve been through a lot – and we’ve got some history.

But often these things are for the best. Errmm…. at least for one of us.

Oh – and it’s probably not a good time to mention it, but I’m Seeing Someone New!

Hmm. Somebody’s misbehaving…

This tree and I are going to have a little chat. You see… whoever built this patio didn’t expect this tree to get so big.  This tree has a big job to do here, too… with strong roots anchoring this home into a hillside property. Her branches are long, strong, and lovely.  I’d say this is going to be a delicate negotiation.

Perhaps something like this. “Um, hello tree! You are big and beautiful!  Erm… can we have a little talk about your waistline? I believe we are outgrowing this little hole made for you.  I’m going to see what I can do about letting out the hem, but I need you to stay healthy in the process.  Can you do it?”

The conversation I’m picturing in return… light blinking through the tree canopy.  Leaves, rustling an answer.  ”Yessssssss…….” and a pent-up sigh of relief from a  lady who wears a garment that does not fit.

I have a feeling that this post might be unpopular with Moms everywhere.  Before you string me up with the Bjorn, follow me for a minute…

This is the best example I’ve seen of how your home should look at an Open House when the homeowner still lives in the home, and has a child and nursery.  It doesn’t hurt that the homeowner is a talented Interior Designer herself, using classy materials like Kitchen Aid appliances, Bisazza Tile, Kohler fixtures, and some knockout Osborne and Little custom wall coverings.  It still reads like a How-To primer for anyone showing a home in the current market conditions: Well designed, de-cluttered, impeccably landscaped, and while displaying an artistic personality – it’s still easy to see how a new owner might live/work/use the space.

Don’t believe me? See for yourself!

The walkway, driveway, fountain, and entry to the home give you an idea of what you might expect when you walk through the door – but it’s still a pleasant surprise to see the foxy entry bench and accent wall.

Did you know that having a bench at the entrance of your home can get you LEED credits? Based on the idea that having a Shoeless Home keeps dirt from outside… well… outside.  Not sure if the faux sheepskin fluffy bench covering counts for anything but design love points… (we love!)

Everything about this home was clean, tidy, striking, and well appointed.   I also loved how each of the outdoor spaces around the home were open, well thought out, and had color and texture visible from every window and door.

The light in this home has a magical quality about it, moody in some places and sunny in others.  You could so film a movie here…

Spotted: Inexpensive Design Brilliance.  Where, you ask? See below.   The three light sources in the hallway aren’t fixtures – they’re round skylights that can be installed in your roof with little fuss.   Solatube makes a good one. They bounce all the light around the reflective tube until it spills into your hall, brightening formerly dreary spaces.  More on Daylighting from me in another post.

Love the patio.

Must say – this home was Catnip for my inner interior design kitty.

Stay tuned at the bottom to see more images from this Mid Century stunner in Pasadena.  If you find yourself coveting this home – I know just the guy to tell you more about it.  Darrell Done, the listing agent, told us it was fun to show such a memorable home.  We can see why!

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Thought I’d share some jobsite images from one of our clients in Echo Park doing some weatherizing on her 1926 weeping windows.  Read to the bottom and click on the link to see our client’s unvarnished thoughts on her personal blog about having my crews around!  (HINT: There is a little swearing involved… )

Many Los Angeles houses have beautiful wood windows that are original to their construction. That means they’re ancient!  As with my home, water damage and poor sealing over time have caused windows to swell, crack, get flimsy, become non-operable, leak profusely at odd times, and attract termites. EEK!

But what’s a homeowner to do?  Part of the value of a 20′s home here in Echo Park and Angeleno Heights is the history and great construction the homes were blessed with. The up and downside of ‘vintage’ windows and doors is that they’ve withstood earthquakes, Santa Ana winds, raging teenagers slamming doors, and big dogs battling the Mailman. (If you’ve got a dog and your mail comes in a mail slot, you get where I’m coming from about the abuse the front windows take…)

These windows are older than our parents! (erm… no Age-ism intended – hope I hold up half as well as these windows!)

As heating and air costs go up, quite a few of our clients have struggled with what to do with these beautiful old windows.  Truly, there are a lot of options. They can be weatherstripped, tuned up and touched up in many cases, if they’ve had attention over the years.

Individual panes of glass can be replaced: especially ones that have suffered indignities like Christmas BB gun excitement, bad glazing, sand papering, and paint jobs, and becoming wavy over time with age.  But part of the problem with the glass is that we’ve advanced our technology to the point where we can stop the sun’s heat from cooking our homes – by replacing windows with low-e glass. Hmm…

For this specific spot at the front of the home, we chose to keep the original windows, sand them down to the bare wood, fill and repair all damage, and perhaps the most controversial decision – we are making them non-operable.  It is difficult to retrofit and successfully weatherstrip windows into these old out of plumb sashes, so to respect the front of the home’s appearance, and for safety, we are fixing the original windows in place.

With several good coats of paint, inside and out, these windows will be a showstopper on the way into a beautiful home.  Do YOUR windows need some sweet love and attention before LA weather heats up?  I know just the guys to do the job… shoot me an email at laurie.march@gmail.com and let’s talk.

Here’s what 90 years of weathering Los Angeles life can do to a window!

Check out our client’s blog post about living through a window update.

Southern California has serious lifestyle perks. The weather, creative people, and a steady stream of new things to see and do top my list of reasons to be here.  Unfortunately, as with most things, these are balanced out by earthquakes, fires, and in many places, a higher crime rate. As a recent victim of a break in at my home, I can attest to this.  Being awakened last night at 4 am by a little 4.4 earthquake reminded me of all the important things to know when you live in Earthquake land…

With all the things going on in our lives, how can you truly protect your home on a daily basis from the reality of life? I highly recommend all of my clients take steps like activating an alarm system on their doors and windows.  This is a major deterrent for most burglars- a blaring alarm or a barking dog can scare off all but the most determined. But what if the danger is more insidious? The damage caused by earthquakes, be it The Big One or smaller seismic adjustments, threaten your family’s safety – and your biggest investment.

Earthquake:

This is a good time to mention having a home inventory done.  A photographic inventory of your home’s exterior, interior rooms and features, and all of your belongings and collections will help you speedily make an insurance claim and move on faster.  Make sure you leave a copy of your inventory with your home insurance agent and or a safety deposit box or a family member out of town!

Getting your home ready for an earthquake involves some effort. Recent rumblings have reminded me that it’s a sure thing to experience an earthquake if you live in Los Angeles. There are ways to be prepared for The Big One. Find a corner or a closet in your home and begin to prep the most important elements of a survival kit, including a gallon of water, per family member, per day.  This is incredibly important!

Emergency organizations remind us that our water line from the tap could be contaminated from ruptured sewer lines, and undrinkable in the aftermath of an earthquake.  A two week supply is a great start.  You can use normal bottled water containers from the grocery store, but they tend to leak, so camping gear water containers are suggested for their size and true storage capacity.

Other important things to prepare include items for avoiding infection. A good First Aid kit, medicines, handy-wipes, and personal care items like shampoo, conditioner, toilet paper, tampons, and toothpaste will go very far in the event of a serious disaster, and could mean the difference between your family surviving comfortably in rough conditions long enough to get medical attention. Also consider prepping a small toolkit and clothing for everyone in the family, as well as blankets, diapers, glasses, and anything necessary to life for children and elderly family members.

For homes built before 1935, making sure the house has been properly bolted will protect your investment through shaky times. This is a job for a contractor. Securing large furniture, artwork, and water heaters to the walls can keep things from falling on you.  Another thing that may save your life is learning how to shut off your gas valve, water line, and electricity in case the lines are damaged.  We can help with all of this!

During an earthquake, remember to move as quickly as possible to interior walls and doorways, protecting your head and avoiding glass windows.  If you have more than one child, consider making a plan regarding which parent will secure which children if possible to avoid confusion.

In the aftermath of an earthquake of some magnitude, you should be prepared for aftershocks.  Immediately check to see if anyone is injured and might need first aid.  For your safety, you should also check on your gas appliances, water lines, and electrical lines.  This is where it really helps to know where your shut off valves are! Shut off anything that might have a leak and DO NOT use matches, or appliances with electrical switches, or light a cigarette until you have been cleared by the gas company or emergency services to do so.  Stay away from damaged buildings and broken glass. Knowing the closest fire, police, and medical assistance locations could save your life!

This is a good time to check on your pets, neighbors, and anyone in your near vicinity.  Experts warn against using your phone for anything but emergency calls at this point. Select a family member out of town for everyone to contact, because long distance phone services are often the first to be returned to working order.  Get to know your neighbors, and consider sharing equipment like backup generators and large tents in case of long term emergency.  Who knows… one might be a doctor or a nurse!

The first 72 hours after an earthquake of magnitude are the most critical. Things you assume are readily available and safe for use may be compromised! Spend a few hours preparing your home and family for the worst, and you will weather the storm in better condition than most.

We work with our clients to safeguard their homes against damage in case of emergency, and educate them about some of the most confusing and obscure systems in their house.  Do you know where YOUR gas shut off valve is? Sprinkler shut off? Give us a call and we can empower you to properly protect your domain.

A wonderful resource for more information is this site:http://www.mygreathome.com/safety/earthquake_preparedness/index.htm

LA Fire Department Earthquake Preparedness Handbook:http://www.lafd.org/eqhbtext.htm

Southern California Earthquake Data Center: http://www.data.scec.org/