Brandelicious

Smart Kitchen Appliances are the Present and the Future

Zuvo Water — Thu, 24 Jan 2013 11:27:00 GMT

Get real-time water consumption data on your smart phone with the Hydration Coach app.

There is a revolution going on in your kitchen. In most homes, the kitchen is the hub -- not just for cooking and eating, but also as the popular family "hang out" spot in general. Some studies show that families spend more time together when there's a computer in the kitchen, including a return to kids doing their homework while sitting at the kitchen table.

It's not just the computer that has made its way into the kitchen. High technology in general is transforming this most traditional of family rooms. Some of us remember watching "The Jetsons," an animated science fiction series about a 2062 family living in a futuristic utopia. This utopia featured robot maids and other elaborate robotic contraptions, holograms, and connected devices to create a glimpse into what the kitchen of the future would be.

It's inevitable that real technology has crept into the kitchen. Various surveys have indicated that two-thirds of consumers are planning to make a "technology purchase" in the next six months. This was evident during Christmas, as the best-selling gifts from the holiday season of 2012 were smart phones, iPods, tablets and e-readers.

Kitchen appliance manufacturers are not blind to the tech trend. They are incorporating it with increasing sophistication into their new product offerings, realizing that consumers are using features such as memory presets, touch technology and the like in many areas of their lives and will expect it in their kitchens and bathrooms. Manufacturers are designing appliances that can provide other functions and make life easier for busy consumers. As intelligent appliances become more widely available and connected to a smart electrical grid, they will also become more energy efficient.

In recent years at the annual Las Vegas-held Consumer Electronics Show (CES) -- the behemoth of all international tradeshows for anything high tech and electronic -- the Connected Home section has steadily grown. A larger and wider array of top and startup kitchen appliance manufacturers are showing up and showing off their "smart" products, evolving into a "connected appliance" tech zone. And it is the smart kitchen appliances that have also increasingly commanded CES news and headlines of "hot product" stories written by tech press attending the show. At the most recent show in January of this year, easily the hottest, most written about product was an electronic fork that monitors one's eating habits.

Indeed, in the kitchen, new product innovations have quickly emerged, including induction cooking, convection ovens, energy efficiency, touch screens, and intelligent and cloud-connected appliances. Many of these innovations show up on kitchen appliances due to the popularity of the feature on another high tech device.

We can probably thank the proliferation and dominance of smart phones, for instance, for one of the aforementioned and hottest, tech trends in the kitchen—the intuitive touch screen interface. Smart phones were among the first to introduce touch screen technology to the mass consumer market. There are millions of smart phone users that are now very used to the touch screen functionality. That same functionality is establishing itself in the kitchen, where touch screen interfaces on new refrigerators, ranges, ovens, microwaves, and dishwashers have become commonplace. For example, refrigerators are now coming equipped with built-in LCD screens so people can download apps that provide not only recipes, but even news and weather as well.

There is also a proliferation of kitchen faucets that feature intelligent, "touch sensing" technology. Zuvo Water's new Stratus faucets, for example, have a touch-sensing feature that not only turns on the filtered water, but also show users the status of the water filtration system using LED lights. (The Stratus faucet is currently available to order in through an Indiegogo crowd-funding campaign alongside its water filtration system.)

High-tech design is another trend in kitchen appliances. Not only are manufacturers bringing the functionality of high-tech gadgets to appliances, they also are borrowing their sleek and streamlined designs. There is an oven range vent hood on the market for instance, that was designed by a former Apple Computer designer. Who could have imagined that one of the most basic kitchen essentials has its design origins linked to perhaps the most innovative and well-known tech product company of our time? At Zuvo Water, the Stratus faucets were designed by a leading Silicon Valley design firm more known for its work on consumer electronics and hardware products (its living frame for Instagram photos, for example) than for kitchen appliance design.

Alongside its smart faucets, Zuvo's Stratus water filtration system is an intelligent ecosystem delivering water information and hydration via the cloud. The Wi-Fi communication allows Zuvo to deliver to one's smartphone a whole host of important information about a user's water; information including the remaining life of the filter, the actual reduction of contaminants in the water, and the daily rate of water consumption in their household. With the personalized Hydration Coach App, one can precisely manage all of one's daily water consumption requirements and get information on replenishing the body's hydration balance. Even a basic gadget such as a water filter has received the high tech treatment.

Today's kitchen appliances are smarter, faster and more efficient than ever before. And they have to function that way in order to keep up with consumers' ever-changing and increasing demands. What is truly exciting about the smart kitchen appliance trend, though, is that previously high tech functionality and features, such as touch technology, were once only available in the most expensive, high-end, premium appliances. Today, as appliance manufacturers incorporate more tech into their new products, they are making them available at mid-level prices that are within reach of the mass consumer. The high tech kitchen can be the present and future for all of us.

Water Conservation: A Priority for All Households

Zuvo Water — Tue, 04 Dec 2012 11:00:00 GMT

Installing low-flow showerheads and low-flush toilets can greatly reduce the home's water bills.

Water has become scarce, as well as expensive. In 1990, 30 states across the United States reported "water-stress" conditions. In 2000, that number rose to 40, and then to 45 in 2009. Water is becoming precious everywhere and water supplies becoming quite strained. Water prices have risen steadily as well over the last dozen years. A USA Today study of 100 municipalities showed that water rates doubled during the 12-year stretch in 25% of those municipalities, and in a few, even tripled. All these alarming factors points to a greater need than ever to conserve water. Taking measures at home to conserve water not only saves you money, it will also benefit the community at large.

By using water saving methods, you can reduce your in-home water use by as much as 35%.

Saving water at home does not require any significant cost outlay. Although there are water-saving appliances and water conservation systems out there that can be more expensive, such as on-demand water heaters for example, doing something such as fixing a long-running leak in a toilet or sink can save a tremendous amount of water and money spent on water bills. A small drip from a worn faucet washer can waste 20 gallons of water per day. Larger leaks can waste hundreds of gallons more.

The majority of water used indoors is in the bathroom. Of this, 29% is for the toilet. The average toilet uses 4 gallons per flush. Invest in an ultra-low flush toilet which will cut that by 50% to 2 gallons per flush. You can also install a simple tank bank, costing about $2, which will save .8 gallons per flush.

You can totally set up your home for water conservation by using features such a tank banks, low-flow showerheads, and faucet aerators. Total cost? Under $50! Besides the low costs, there are no installation headaches to be had. Installing low-flow aerators, showerheads, tank banks and other water-saving devices usually is a very simple operation which can be done by the homeowner and in some instances, doesn't even require any tools.

Water filtration systems that don't generate waste-water are the best solution.

Home dwellers who utilize water filtration systems can even be more water efficient with the sort of filter that they elect to use. Reverse osmosis systems, for example are incredibly big water wasters. Although they don't require electricity if you are on municipal water, a RO system will flush 4-8 gallons of concentrated waste water down the drain, to produce just one gallon of filtered water. Consider the drag of all these gallons of water on your utility bill and consider getting a more water-conservation friendly system, such as a Zuvo Water Filtration System, which does not create any wastewater in its patented, five-step cleansing process.

Apart from water-saving appliances and devices, just a simple behavioral modification in water usage on the part of home dwellers can save a tremendous amount of water. By running a washing machine or dishwasher only when they are full for instance, a whopping 1,000 gallons of water per month can be saved, which can obviously make that monthly water bill a little lighter as well.

Water conservation at home is one of the easiest measures to put in place, and water efficiency, in light of today's water scarcity and rising water rates, should be a top priority for all households.
From the website www.wateruseitwisely.com, here are 112 ways to conserve water at home.

Get Lit for Less: Room & Board Edition

MCALighting — Thu, 06 Sep 2012 12:00:00 GMT

Get Lit for Less: Room & Board Edition

The home can seem a darker place when the kids are off at school. Brighten it back up with wall sconces from ET2! And for those studious types working into the wee hours, check out the fiscally responsible table lamps and task lighting. Spend less, light more!

In this post, we'll be comparing our fixtures with similar version from Room & Board. The savings speak for themselves!


ET2 E21302-10PC Inca 1 Light Wall Sconce in Polished Chrome FROM: ET2 $90.00	Dianelli Wall Sconce FROM: Room & Board $340.00
You save $250!


ET2 E20011-11 Ports 20" 1 Light Table Lamp FROM: ET2 $198.00	Duo Table Lamp FROM: Room & Board $399.00
You save $201!


ET2 E22020-30 Tuxedo 1 Light Table Lamp FROM: ET2 $148.00	Sasha Table Lamp FROM: Room & Board $199.00
You save $51!


ET2 E41001-SN Eco-Task LED Table Lamp in Satin Nickel FROM: ET2 $298.00	Brazo Table Lamp FROM: Room & Board $420.00
You save $122!


Wand 1 Light Wall Sconce in Polished Chrome FROM: ET2 $298.00	Tubo Bath Bar Sconce FROM: Room & Board $590.00
You save $292!

We hope you find some quality lighting for your home!

The Many Benefits of a Steam Spa

MrSteam — Thu, 12 Jul 2012 18:02:00 GMT

Despite the abundance of steam, this steam shower will use a scant 2 gallons of water for a 20 minute experience.

Nothing beats a steam shower for health and wellness benefits.

And because it uses only 2 gallons of water for a luxurious 20-minute experience, a steam spa is a responsible choice as well.

A spa bath with a relaxing shower or a luxurious whirlpool can often be a special haven after a tough day. But with concerns about water shortages mounting, responsible homeowners and designers are seeking new alternatives to these water and energy guzzling spa bath fixtures. They are discovering that steam showers are a great way indulge responsibly.

Steam showers provide a luxurious spa bath experience yet use a miserly two gallons of water to provide 20 minutes of health and wellness benefits.

In comparison, a deluxe shower system with two 2.2 gallon-per-minute (gpm) outlets and three 1.1 gpm outlets operating for 20 minutes uses a whopping 160 gallons of water. A typical whirlpool-type bath requires a hefty 75 gallons or so of water. Plus, both shower systems and whirlpools require a significant amount of energy to heat all that water.

Home steam showers are surprisingly easy to install as part of an overall bathroom remodel and depending on the brand, they can be an environmentally responsible purchase as well.

For example, Mr. Steam home steam room generators are made from recyclable stainless steel with serviceable industrial grade components and state of the art self-diagnostic tools. All this means Mr. Steam systems are designed to facilitate repairing vs. replacing the steam generator, should a problem arise, reducing both costs and waste. Even the Mr. Steam packaging is made from 100 percent recyclable materials.

It may seem as though today’s hectic schedules would leave little time for enjoying a luxury like a steam shower. However, Mr. Steam offers a variety of solutions to provide a hassle-free experience thanks to exclusive technologies such as Steam Genie™ and AutoFlush®. Steam Genie, a convenient handheld controller, activates a Mr. Steam steam bath from almost anywhere in the home at the touch of a button. AutoFlush assures easy, automatic, worry-free maintenance. Spa Packages with AromaSteam™, ChromaSteam™ and MusicTherapy™ deliver the added pleasures of scents, colors, lights and music to your home spa.

“We feel that steam showers are a responsible luxury, somethings people can indulge in every day and still feel good about the products they use,” points out Michael Pinkus, president of Mr. Steam. “As homeowners think more and more about their daily use of water and energy, we believe they’ll be pleasantly surprised at how simple and efficient—and enjoyable—a home steam shower can be.”

Good Vibrations

BH North America — Wed, 28 Mar 2012 12:20:00 GMT

The VS5 Vibration Plate.

It's not a get-fit-quick gimmick. Vibration platforms build upon technology that dates as far back as 1859. More recently, vibration technology was used by the Soviet Space Program to stave off decreased bone density in astronauts.

The 90's saw vibration make its way into Europe and into the fitness market. Today, Whole Body Vibration (WBV) works all muscle groups, acting like a wake up call to the body. It stimulates the musculoskeletal structure and increases blood circulation throughout the entire body. Muscles are forced to work faster and more efficiently, increasing muscle contraction and metabolic rate.

Here's an interesting article by a chiropractor on the benefits of WBV for athletes and non-athletes alike.

The VS5 Vibration Plate pictured above sells on Homeclick as a package with the BH Fitness XS8 Elliptical for $3,199.

Get Lit For Less: The March Madness Edition

MCALighting — Mon, 19 Mar 2012 19:06:00 GMT

The only thing crazier than a Lehigh upset is paying too much for good lighting. Or watching the NCAA semi-finals in bad lighting.

In our second installment of Getting Lit for Less we’ve put together three more comparisons – that’s three more ways you can save hundreds of dollars on the designer lighting look.

Check out the pendant, flute and chandelier options below. Which lighting option would you be most likely to go with? Tell us in the comment section.

Half Moon Pendant
Design Within Reach

Price: $539.75

Passion Light Pendant
ET2 Contemporary Lighting

Price: $228.00

You save: $311.75!

Drop 1 Pendant
Design Within Reach

Price: $233.75

Flute Light Pendant
ET2 Contemporary Lighting

Price: $134.95

You save: $98.80!

Chandelier
Hive

Price: $4,192

Silo 8-Light Chandelier
Maxim

Price: $664.20

You save: $3527.80!

BH Fitness Athlete Angela Naeth Wins Ironman Panama

BH North America — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 18:35:00 GMT

Angela Naeth crossing the Finish Line in Panama.

BH Fitness is proud to announce that BH athlete, Angela Naeth, won the 70.3 Ironman Panama on Sunday with 4:15:31 and set the fastest bike time of the day.

Training on BH Fitness equipment and riding a BH bike has made all the difference in Naeth’s performance. BH Bikes is one of Naeth’s sponsors and is one of Europe’s best-known bicycle makers.

Are you looking to train for an Ironman? Here’s a good piece on Minimalist Ironman Training that talks training tips, workout schedules and so on. Scroll down to #4 and read about the advantages of indoor cycling.

BH North America fitness equipment brands include BH Fitness and Bladez Fitness, which offer a wide selection of stationary bikes, elliptical machines, treadmills and more.

Do you have some fitness goals in 2012? Are you incorporating any home gym workouts/equipment to meet them? Tell us about it!

Get Lit For Less: Low-Cost Lighting Fixtures

MCALighting — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 21:13:00 GMT

Get high-end lighting aesthetic—without the expensive designer name! We’ve done the comparison shopping for you and found low-cost options that can save you over $1000. Our new segment Get Lit For Less will help you create that “design catalog look” without breaking the bank.

Take a look at the contemporary floor lamps and ceiling pendants below to see how much you stand to save.

Half Moon Floor Lamp
Design Within Reach

Price: $1,285

Passion 1-Light Floor Lamp
ET2 Contemporary Lighting

Price: $468.00

You save $817.00!

Tripode Floor Lamp
The Conran Shop

Price: $1,120

Percussion 3-Light Floor Lamp
ET2 Contemporary Lighting

Price: $458.00

You save $662.00!

Hope 28” Pendant
Room & Board

Price: $2,205

Cassini 20-Light Pendant
ET2 Contemporary Lighting

Price: $988.20

You save $1,216.80!

Game Day Essentials: The Furniture You Need For an Unforgettable Super Bowl Party

AbbysonLiving — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 20:39:00 GMT

You’ve waited all year for this: the biggest game of the season. Besides the obvious (a beer-stocked fridge, lots of munchies and all your friends), there are some other elements that make a Super Bowl party truly memorable.

Super Seating

Ample, comfortable seating for all your family and friends is imperative. By adding recliners, club chairs and barstools to your existing seating, you can ensure everyone gets a great view of the game. Have sturdy ottomans on-hand to accommodate any extra attendees (unexpected plus-one’s or your buddy who never RSVPs…you know who he is) and to store your guests’ belongings or snack refills.

Abbyson Living Brownstone Premium Italian Leather Recliner

Hanan Ottoman with Three Trays

Bentley White Leather Club Chair

Arranging furniture in a U-shape around the TV whenever possible will makes sure everyone can socialize with one another without missing any plays. Make sure anything breakable is removed from an arm’s-length radius; all it takes is an emphatic “WHAT?!” hand gesture in response to a bad call or an unexpected injury to send vases and picture frames flying.

As for fabric choices, both genuine leather and Microsuede make inevitable spills a breeze to clean up. Just remember to dab up liquid, not rub. (Reading this in a panic after Bob spilled Pepsi on the loveseat? See the Leather Care Guide for more emergency help.)

Entertainment Centers

The focal point of the entire day is your TV, which means your friends are also staring at your entertainment center. A tired, outdated TV console simply won’t work. Here are some modern, sturdy options that will display that impressive flat screen in style:

Zentro Entertainment Console

Troy Console TV Stand

Now you have food, friends, furniture and a sexy TV console for your plasma and all its components.

The only question left is, which mask will you be wearing???