Wednesday, December 31, 2008

Double Champagne Chiller

It's New Year's Eve 2008. I can't believe how quickly this year has flown by. Tonight we'll be saying goodbye to this past year--bidding adieu to all of the good moments and to the not-so-great moments we have experienced. We will also be celebrating the promise of a new year and all the potential it holds. So, let's raise our glasses to the New Year and toast with chilled champagne, kept cool by this Double Champagne Chiller by Old Dutch. The 7-quart container is made of copper and has an aluminum insert that creates a separate space for two bottles of champagne or wine, with a third partition for ice. The hammered design and cast brass handles add an elegant touch to your large party of intimate gathering and keep wine and champagne at the perfect temperature. The wine chiller also comes in a chrome-plated finish. Happy New Year everybody!

Tuesday, December 30, 2008

Wicker Hamper & Laundry Basket

Laundry has a way of piling up in my house, especially dirty laundry. It would be nice to be able to contain it somehow, in an aesthetically pleasing way. Enter the laundry hamper. Hampers come in all shapes and sizes, but the larger the hamper, the better it is for me. I like the look of wicker, with its woven texture made of natural materials. This Wicker Hamper & Laundry Basket Set from Neu Home has a large hamper with a cloth liner and a lid to keep all the dirty clothes out of sight. The laundry basket is also lined and features handles for easy transportation. The laundry basket can be used not only for dirty laundry, but also for sheets and towels or anything else you would like to store or display.

Monday, December 29, 2008

Contemporary Dining Set

I love the sophisticated style of the Nottingham 6-Piece Dining Set by Hillsdale. The round pedestal table and faux leather upholstered chairs and bench have an upscale and modern design that reminds me of an urban setting like a Manhattan loft, but also has a comfortable, laid-back feel to it as well. Hardwoods and climate-controlled wood composites create this rich-looking dining ensemble with a Dark Walnut finish for added warmth. The pieces of this dining set are also sold separately, so you can choose which pieces work best in your dining room.

Tuesday, December 23, 2008

Cupboard and Hutch

I love collecting dishes, especially antiques. I would fill my house with transferware, Flow Blue, majolica and Wedgewood, if only I had the room for all of it. The West Chester Hutch from Westmoreland Woodworks would be such a great backdrop for displaying and storing all my dishes and my antique glassware too. Solidly built from Eastern pine, this hutch has a classic design that hearkens back to the kitchens of yesteryear. Open shelves, three drawers and enclosed cabinets offer plenty of space for a variety of kitchen items, linens and tableware. The finish is hand-distressed and antiqued to give the cupboard and hutch a truly authentic look.

Monday, December 22, 2008

Endgrain Cutting Board

Proper tools in the kitchen make a difference towards your end result. Cutting boards are no exception. There are so many cutting boards and chopping blocks out there in the market it's hard to know which one to choose. I prefer natural materials myself, and can't resist the look of hardwood. This is the first time I have encountered teak cutting boards. These Proteak Endgrain Circle Cutting Boards are made with an endgrain construction and have a beautiful pattern in the wood, so they look great on the counter. The juice canal keeps liquid from spilling off the cutting board surface.

Friday, December 19, 2008

Personal Air Purifier

It's not what you think it is. The BlueAir AirPod HEPASilent air purifier is a personal-sized air purifier that can go wherever you go to provide cleaner and fresher air in your immediate surroundings. The electrostatically charged ionizer and power unit in the docking station trap small particles and filter them, leaving the air around you clear. This air purifier is only about six inches tall and six inches wide so you can take it to the office, in the car or anywhere cleaner air is needed. The 12 volt DC fan operates quietly, so you hardly know it's there. The filters are available in the Waves, Tree Branches or Paisley patterns, all of which are pretty cool. Don't be surprised if someone asks what you are listening to...

Thursday, December 18, 2008

Entertainment Center

Large screen and flat panel televisions are here to stay. Finding the right entertainment center to fit both the TV and the room decor can be a bit of a challenge, but there are so many from which to choose, you're guaranteed to find exactly what you need and love. Many are available as a set, complete with credenza and pier cabinets to complete the ensemble. The Crescent Village Ovation Entertainment Center has a rustic look with an oak finish and black accents, which make a beautiful contrast. The credenza has room for audio and visual components and media collections, as well as open shelving for decorative accents. The pier cabinets are adjustable and can fit televisions up to 50-3/4" wide and 34" high. The black carpet behind the TV blocks out light to give you a better picture. Open shelves on the pier cabinets are the perfect place for books, plants or photos.

Wednesday, December 17, 2008

Canoe Bookshelf

This Canoe Bookshelf from Westmoreland Woodworks has a quirky and fun-loving appeal and would fit in well with my nautical and cottage-style decorating themes. I love them because they remind me of being by the water, and of vacations on Martha's Vineyard and Hilton Head, and of childhood summers spent on the Mississippi River in Minnesota. The bookshelf is made of pine and is hand-distressed with worm holes and indentations that make it look like it has been a fixture in the family cabin or beach house and has been passed down through generations.

Tuesday, December 16, 2008

Butcher Block Kitchen Island

When I dream of having a larger kitchen, I also dream of having a large kitchen island, one where there's plenty of room for food preparation and for storing all the kitchen items I use most frequently. I would love to be able to make it the prime focal point in the kitchen, as well as a gathering place for friends and family. The Harrisburg Kitchen Island with Butcher Block Top from Westmoreland Woodworks is made of Eastern white pine with a butcher block top and a distressed, antiqued finish. Three large drawers, an enclosed cabinet and open shelving provide more than enough space for my linens, utensils and small appliances like my blender and hand mixer. The traditional style of this kitchen island fits in with my heirloom-style furnishings and would definitely make an impact in my kitchen.

Monday, December 15, 2008

Base Cabinet Pantry

If I could update the intertior of my kitchen cabinets, I would definitely want a base cabinet pantry like this one from OmegaNational Products. I love the fact that the sections swing out for fast and easy access to everything, and you don't have to go feeling around in the dark to find what you're looking for. This pantry also makes things more visible so you can see what you have at a quick glance. Adjustable shelves create space to store items of varied sizes. The pantry is made of maple hardwoods and veneers and is designed for base cabinets that are 24" high.