K/BIS 2007 Recap

The 2007 Kitchen/Bath Industry Show wrapped up yesterday in Las Vegas and we've got some recaps from a couple of our favorite editors/bloggers.

Kristen Mucci of This Old House has been covering the tradeshow from the TOH Hardware Aisle. This is her 7th year attending and one of the larger trends she's noticed is the integration of technology into every appliance, fixture, and product that's available for homes. She also uncovered a $75K lapis sink which was behind a velvet rope (not sure who or how someone could steal that).

Of course The Kitchen Designer was there and she's returned with a great review of new products and themes plus a couple of podcasts from a Charlie Trotter kitchen presentation and Top Design winner Matt Lorenz.

Looking forward to seeing some of these products on the shelves this year.

  May 11, 2007 | Comments ()

Soundproofing Your Home

Last year we touched on some ways to prevent sound from leaving your rooms but more importantly how do you keep sound out of your home? Repair-Home.com has some suggestions that require changes to your walls, ceilings, and windows. But you should first follow their easy tips.

* At least 25% of every room should be devoted to absorbent materials, such as carpeting, furniture, or draperies. These materials help dampen sound waves, and absorb sound.
* Entrance ways can also be a source of noise problems. Try to install solid-core doors throughout your house, or keep doors to your rooms closed. This will reduce the amount of sound that travels from room to room.
* In a pinch, cheap soundproofing never fails! You can always hang carpeting or bedding or push mattresses up against the walls, to help reduce noise transmission.

  May 10, 2007 | Comments (1)