 We've all dreamed of having a fully automated home ever since we saw them on futuristic TV shows when we were kids, but it's been a long time coming. We could get a system for home security, another for heating and cooling, still another for our entertainment center, leaving us holding half a dozen remotes and not getting anything to work. Thanks to some patient guinea pigs who had the Comfort System in their homes for several years and helped work the bugs out, we may be close to the real thing. Cytech's technology can be used from any telephone, handheld remote, iPad, or computer and it integrates all of your home security, maintenance, entertainment, comfort, and communication systems. It works so well that you can speak to someone at your front door using your intercom, water your lawn, start cooking your dinner, check to see if the kids are doing their homework, close the drapes, listen to your messages, and turn on your favorite TV show--all while you're stuck in traffic. Some of the features are just fun, but others give you peace of mind by constantly monitoring your home and letting you know immediately if there's an emergency.
 You may recall that right before Christmas, the David Wright house was sold soon after the Frank Lloyd Wright Building Conservancy was able to temporarily block the plans of the owners to tear down the house and build new ones.
A ruling on the home's historical designation was scheduled to go before the city council today, but the new owner is requesting a 6-month extension to allow enough time to put together a comprehensive presentation for fully restoring the interior and exterior of the home and then opening it up for public tours.
Frank Lloyd Wright built this home in 1952 for his son and daughter-in-law, David and Gladys Wright. It has come to be known for its circular architecture, concrete block detailing, spiral ramps, and elevated living quarters as you can see in the photos below. These pictures were taken at the last public showing of the house before it was sold.
| | Wall Art is an intangible when it comes to decorating your home. Some people are intimidated by art because it's not as straightforward as choosing a bed or sofa. Right now, metal art is very popular. The colors are vibrant and the pieces are distinctive. Metal art is available in a variety of sizes, from small accent pieces to large sofa-size pictures. | |
For people who want their art to make a statement, wall murals can do that. You have to know what you want on the wall and be committed to keeping it there a while. Wall murals are typically bold, either in size or color or both. When you're selecting art work for your home, consider size, placement, color and style.
| | | | Canvas paintings are still popular and while they're available in a wide variety of sizes, shapes, and colors, bright colors and large segmented pieces are especially popular. In the rooms shown below, you'll notice that the wall art is a cohesive part of the room. It either blends in perfectly to tie the room together or it's a contrasting color that stands out as the focal point of the room. |
| | Mirrors are an easy way to change the appearance of a room. They can visually enlarge the space, bring in light, or add personality to your room. In this picture, the room appears much larger because of the wall-sized mirror. Be sure to notice what your mirror is across from. Reflecting a vase of flowers or a window looks like you have two, but reflecting something ugly can look like double too. | |
Mirrors frames are available in all types of materials including silver, wood, gold, sea shells, fabric, mosaic tiles, glass, and beads.
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You can also get mirrors that are in unusual sizes and shapes, or even split apart into smaller pieces. Some of these examples look like art and would easily be the focal point of your room.
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| | According to landscape architects, the one item you need in your yard that we didn't include in our list yesterday is a focal point. A focal point can be anything of interest that you appreciate and draws people's attention. Possibilities include a water fall, unique tree, bridge, large rock, gazebo, unusual planter, statue or fountain, to name a few. The only recommendation to keep in mind is to stay within the same theme or style. For example, you don't want Buddha in a cactus garden or a Greek statue next to a palm tree. |
| | Does your walk-in closet look like the picture on the right? Do you have a hard time finding anything to wear? Would you like your closet to look more like the picture on the left? Organizing your closet may be easier than you might think. | | | If you have the dimensions of your closet, it's possible to get either a wire or wood closet organizing system that fits like it's custom made. By hanging your separates where you can see them, it's easy to see what outfits you have to wear. By hanging only the fabrics that need to be hung and folding all other items, like knits, your hanging racks won't be as crowded. If your closet is jam-packed, you will have to weed out the clothes you haven't worn for a long time. If it's been more that 2 years, it's time to let it be passed on to either a friend or a thrift store. If it's winter, pack away your summer clothes and vice versa, so that everything in your closet is wearable. If you have clothes that are torn, too big, too small or out of season, it may literally be true that you have nothing to wear. Below are some examples of well-organized closets. | |
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What home remodeling topic would you like us to write about? Is there a home improvement project you've been thinking about tackling, but don't know where to start? What title would make you say, "I have to read that"? Over the past month, we've looked at Home Movie Theaters, Designing the Perfect Kitchen Island, and Creating a Bathroom Sanctuary. What suggestions do you have for the next few weeks? We'd love to hear what you have to say.
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 _This month Better Homes and Gardens published both articles that they requested me to write for their website. One of the articles was based on a homeowners question about current trends in kitchen remodeling. The second article was based on another homeowners question about the dangers of lead paint in her home, and how to deal with it.
 We're proud to announce that this Saturday's Cool Home Feature in the Arizona Republic will feature one of our award winning remodels.
This home in the historic Willo neighborhood will also be on this years Willo Home tour on February 12th. The Cool Home feature can also be seen online at Arizona Central.
For additional photos and info visit our Award Winning Historic Kitchen feature page.
 This is pretty cool... Samsung has come out with two bacteria-killing air conditioners that use Micro Plasma Ion (MPI) technology. The company is intent on educated us that while shopping for energy star products that it is cooler to find products that protect your health too.
The Vivace Shadow Mirror (photo above) and Neo-Forte (photo below) pack enough tech firepower to zap unwanted visitors. According to Samsung's Choi Donguk, MPI is capable of effectively eliminating 78 percent of fungus and 58 percent of bacteria in a 30-minute time frame, within an enclosed environment.
 The MPI works in tandem with a carbon deodorizer that removes odors and bacteria, a Silver Nano evaporator and a Catechin filter developed from a green tea extract. The air conditioners now offer 30 percent energy savings. To read more go to www.quietside.com.
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