Cortica

Cork is a material best known for preservation. It salvages our delicate wines when the air would otherwise spoil them, would have kept our memos safely tacked onto it’s board - if not for the invention of email - and when utilized by Daniel Michalik, helps sustain our environment.

Based in Brooklyn, Michalik has developed a highly-evolved design of cork furniture that reuses the non-toxic material to create a handful of different items including the Cortiça chaise longue and the Sway stools. Indeed the reuse of materials is one argument for green design, but besides that, a Cork Oak tree lives for 200 years. After it’s approximately 25 years old, the cork can be stripped off of it’s trunk every nine years.

But not only is a cork tree long-lasting, the material it sheds is buoyant, elastic, and fire resistant. This is no secret to Michalik who says, “Knowing that cork is naturally 100% waterproof, I decided to tackle a little experiment. With two intrepid stunt pilots, I took the shop chaise down to a local beach, and rode it right out into Buzzards Bay! Floats like, well, a cork—only more ergonomic.”

All of his designs are handmade from reclaimed waste material directly from the bottle-stopper industry. Naturally, all of his furnishings are non-toxic, made with a marine-grade adhesive and a small amount of polyurethane that makes indoor or outdoor use possible.

The Cortiça chaise is full-sized at 72” x 20” x 26”, making it spacious and comfortable besides being buoyant. It’s form balances itself to support your weight while offering a certain amount of pliability to allow for rocking and relaxing.

With a solid cork central column and perforated sides, the Sway stool was designed to do exactly as its name suggests. It leans slightly with the natural movement of your body and even adds to your health by calling upon stabilizing muscles that help to keep good posture and circulation. Many who own a Sway stool give it’s use as an office chair substitution rave reviews.

If an investment in cork comes as temporary delight in bottle form, the streamlined innovation of Michalik’s cork furnishings will prove both satisfying and long-lasting.

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Tiny Travel Spaces

When it comes to accommodations, does size matter? It does if you’re trying to save money. Explore some of the world’s cutest and coziest hotel rooms with prices to match.

Cedar Creek Treehouse is perched 50 feet in the air in a Western red cedar tree just outside Mount Rainier National Park in Washington. And the view can’t be beat: From these heights, you can see Osborne Mountain and the Sawtooth Ridge Peaks. Amenities include a loft with futons and skylights, gas stove, water, sink, icebox and a half bath. Leave your laptop behind; the treehouse is powered by solar.

If you find yourself stuck at London’s Heathrow Airport or Schiphol in Amsterdam, check out Yotel. This pint-sized pit stop offers an affordable place to crash. Inspired by business-class airline cabins, Yotel designers created their own two-tier cabin system. Cabins are available in premium with either full-size double bed or standard with large single bed. Both options accommodate two people and include en-suite bathroom, flat-screen TV, pull-down working desk and room service. (Bonus: Yotel is also at London Gatwick’s South Terminal.) Amsterdam Schiphol Yotel is within the secure transit area, minutes from the departure gates.

Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport is the world’s busiest airport, but travelers can now find a quiet place to work or nap amid the chaos. Minute Suites opened in 2009, offering tiny rooms in Concourse B, adjacent to Gate B15. Each room includes a daybed sofa, sound-suppressing system, high-definition TV, Internet access, desk, phone and office chair. Rooms do not have restrooms, however; you’ll find them in Concourse B.

The Pod Hotel in New York’s Midtown East neighborhood offers tiny rooms close to attractions such as Radio City Music Hall, The United Nations, Times Square, Rockefeller Center and St. Patrick's Cathedral. Room styles include bunk, single, double or queen, and all contain an MP3 player docking station, free Wi-Fi and an LCD TV. The hotel also has a restaurant and rooftop garden bar.

Launched in London, this budget hotel chain has spread across Europe and will soon take hold in the Middle East with one opening in Dubai in August. The no-frills rooms include TV, Wi-Fi and luggage storage. EasyHotels can be found in Basel and Zurich, Switzerland; Berlin; Budapest, Hungary; Edinburgh, Scotland; Larnaka, Cyprus; and Sofia, Bulgaria.

At Dasparkhotel in Ottensheim, Germany, clever ecologically minded people have converted drain pipes into hotel rooms. The rooms contain nothing more than a bed and a lamp and might not be much to look at, but they are in a scenic location on the banks of the Danube River. It’s a short walk to toilets, showers, the city center and restaurants. Sorry, I could not do this one!!!! 
 

Japanese capsule hotels were designed to give Tokyo business people a place to spend the night when they worked late and missed their trains. Now these little boxes attract tourists, too. A typical capsule hotel has a private space with sleeping rooms and a public lounge that includes a place for bathing. The capsule unit is made of reinforced plastic and designed in the image of a jet airplane's cockpit. Each unit contains a TV, radio, alarm clock and adjustable lighting. via

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Reduce, Reuse, Recycle - Construction & Demolition Materials

If you are planning a construction or remodeling project, there are a number of things you can do before you start:



     1.  Contact your local builder's association, your county solid waste department, or your state environmental agency. They will provide information on recyclers and waste haulers in your area.


     2.  Consider whether deconstruction techniques can be used to prepare your site for renovation or construction. In some communities, deconstruction auctions are being effectively used to move building materials into the reuse market.


     3.  Check with local salvagers before purchasing new products. You might be surprised to find that many of them offer cabinets, doors, windows, and flooring that are in good condition for greatly reduced prices.


     4.  Reuse, and Recycling of Demolition Waste (PDF). This document can assist users in determining the most feasible methods for reducing C&D debris being disposed of in landfills.


     5.  Donate the C&D materials that you are not planning to use to a local affiliate of Habitat for Humanity.

     6.  Consult the Field Guide for Residential Remodelers. This field guide prepared by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) Research Center provides remodelers with information on cost-effective and voluntary construction waste management. The Remodeler's Field Guide addresses the unique aspects of remodeling, including differences in waste generation and site and work characteristics.

          Introduction (PDF)

          Remodeler's Field Guide (PDF)

  7.  To reduce lead hazards check EPA resources on Remodeling or Renovating a Home with Lead-Based Paint.

Source: www.epa.gov

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Entertaining/In The Dorm

Avoid the Freshman Fifteen


OK, the picture is funny, but it works if you are desperate and the guys are saying, "works for me". It's dormitory move in day. Say good bye to curfew, intruding parents, pesky siblings, meals on the table, and your old jean size. Say hello to all-night parties, late-night studying, life in a cinder block room, a diet of fast food, and stretch pants. The Freshman Fifteen is no myth. But with these must have college cooking gadgets and easy dorm room recipes, it really is possible to still wear your favorite skinny jeans come exam time.

The Microwave


Every college student must have a microwave – its uses are endless. This sleek little microwave is powerful and efficient, and still packs enough room for a full-size rotating plate. Whip up this tasty snack mix when you need fuel for the mind.

The Mini-Fridge


If you want to keep perishable food in your room and avoid buying drinks at the vending machine, you've got to get a mini-fridge. This mini-fridge with freezer is almost three feet high, so the top of it does double duty as a work space and storage area (or bedside table). Throw together this cheap ($3 per serving) and low-cal chickpea salad for an easy and filling meal.

The Slow Cooker


This will be the best item you will purchase. Imagine coming home to the smell of homemade (and antioxidant rich) chili on a cold fall day. You can scoop it in a bowl, eat it in your bed, plop that empty bowl on your desk, and roll over for a nap. Life is that easy with this programmable slow cooker. Combine the ingredients in the morning, turn it on, leave for class, come home, and voila! You have a hearty meal waiting for you.

The Toaster Oven


You can't have a full-size oven in your room, but you can have a toaster oven. To bake the perfect pizza and waffles, opt for a toaster oven instead. This one can accommodate six pieces of bread and has temperature settings. On lazy Sunday mornings, treat yourself to easy chocolate croissants.

The George Foreman Grill


You cannot go wrong with this countertop grill created by heavyweight boxer and healthy home cook, George Foreman. The uses for the grill are endless: grilled fruit, sandwiches, meats, and quesadillas. You don't need much to get tasty results; just a lean cut of meat and a few spices yield satisfying results. This small grill comes with a custom sponge for easy clean-up.

The Coffee Maker


Coffee can be a welcome boost in the morning. This four-cup coffee maker can be programmed up to 24 hours in advance, so you can wake up to fresh brewed coffee every morning. Use it to make this delicious alternative to the fancy mocha frappuccinos that are costly to both your wallet and your waistline.

These are great gifts to offer a new student, they need to learn College 101......the basics!!!!

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Children's Theme Rooms

This colorful bed brightens up the room while complementing the theme with muted sky blues and sunset golds.

With its fun femininity, this room is sure to delight any little girl who loves stories of faraway lands and happy endings.

This global theme room can help children learn about the world beyond their home. This room can grow with any child.

This room is sure to appeal to any budding artist.via

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Entertaining/Pomegranate Fizzies

Pomegranate Fizzies


You can throw these sparklers―dressed-up kir royales―together as guests walk in the door.

This is my new,"Entertaining", section, which features, specialty drinks, appetisers, entres' and more. The posts will show randomly, so be sure to add SID to your favorites. You can always type the word (Entertaining) in the upper left corner of my blog and search for all entries in the new section.

Ingredients


1 bottle (750 ml.) cold extra-dry sparkling wine or sparkling apple juice

About 2/3 cup cold unsweetened pomegranate juice

About 2 1/2 tbsp. pomegranate seeds

Preparation

Fill wine flutes three-quarters full with sparkling wine. Add a generous splash of pomegranate juice to each, and drop in 1 tsp. pomegranate seeds.

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Vacation Cottage Plans, Sunapee NH

Construction will begin right after Labor Day on our client’s vacation cottage in Blodgett’s Landing on Lake Sunapee. The new cottage was designed within the Comprehensive Shoreland Protection Act (CSPA) guidelines and the historic nature of Blodgett Landing’s architectural style.

The cottage design has its roots in the Landing’s Victorian influenced architecture; steep gables, expansive porches and lacy "gingerbread" trim all have been distilled into a clean modern interpretation of the area’s homes.

 

The floor plans are designed to enjoy lakeside living with the basement level providing access to and from the lake, along with a ¾ bath, media room and game room with a snack area and wine refrigerator.

The cottage plans feature a spacious porch overlooking the lake and adjacent open kitchen, dining, and living room for entertaining. The master suite on the second level also features a covered balcony for quiet evenings spent watching the sunset over Lake Sunapee.

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