There are few luxuries in life that can compare to the cotton bath towel. Before the bath, the cotton towel is the great big promise of being wrapped up in that warm, soft slice of heaven when your bath is done. After the bath, as you step out of the tub onto the bathroom floor, it’s the fulfillment of that promise, and a whole lot more.

Because no matter how much you anticipate it, no amount of imagination can ever equal that first touch of plush, warm softness. The feel of it as it snuggles around you and holds you tight in its incredibly soft and wonderfully warm embrace. Wrapped in a freshly pulled towel from the bathroom cabinet, you feel yourself floating into another dimension of space and time.

All right, you caught me. I just really, really like bath towels.

Fast forward a few years, and like everyone else, I’m concerned about my carbon footprint.

As luxurious and lovely as cotton is, adding not only to your bath experience but your bathroom decor as well, it’s an ecologically expensive crop to grow. Growing cotton uses a great deal of water and fertile land. Processing cotton can be completely organic or may utilize bleaches and dyes.
So, is there an alternative to cotton towels just as comfortable and cozy that’s actually ecologically friendly?

Sprouting freely and growing almost anywhere, bamboo seems like the perfect solution to the carbon footprint problem. It grows fast, it’s infinitely renewable, and it can be cultivated without using chemicals. The makers of bamboo towels claim their product is better than cotton because it’s just as soft and plush, plus it’s organic, antimicrobial and biodegradable. Plus it has limited water usage.

Seems your choice would be clear, right?

Now, this is where it gets interesting. Cotton fiber can be spun, loomed, and made into towels without changing its identity as a natural product. Bamboo thread, on the other hand, is prepared by using harsh chemicals to produce bamboo pulp. This in turn is spun into strands for weaving, a process similar to how rayon is made from pine trees—one that expels a lot of pollutants into the air.

The maker of bamboo towels claim their towels are softer than cotton towels, but a Wall Street Journal test revealed that softness depended on the weave and thickness of the towel more than the fabric source. And where raw bamboo, like raw cotton, is biodegradable, once bamboo is made into cloth, it’s no more biodegradable than cotton towels.

Well, there you have it. In the battle between cotton vs. bamboo towels, it’s more or less a draw. Where bamboo will grow just about anywhere, it takes harsh chemicals to process it into fibers. And where cotton uses up a lot of land and water to help it grown, it doesn’t need heavy processing to make it usable.

To my way of thinking, I’m sticking with cotton towels for my bathroom furnishings, with a compromise to purchase only organic.

And with that, I think it’s time for a soak in the bathtub!

As a kid, the most mysterious room in my parent’s house was the first floor powder room. Situated between the front door and kitchen, it was forbidden fruit to anyone except adult guests, visiting our home. Imagine my rapture when at 16 I was granted admittance to the powder room—the theory being that if I was mature enough to drive a car I could be trusted to enter this hallowed spot.

What a surprise when I discovered it was just a bathroom, and a little one at that.

As my generation became adults, we neglected the poor little powder room. We turned it into a mudroom, a spa, an extended laundry room (my personal favorite), and a plethora of other things as far away from its original intent as possible: this, the single most influential room in your home.

Think about it. Everyone uses the powder room, usually within the first few minutes of arriving at your home, to check makeup, wash hands, grab a tissue, or just for the obvious. So, thank goodness cooler heads have prevailed and the powder room is making a comeback.

Be warned, though—it’s not your parent’s powder room.

Gone are the bland walls, boring tile floors, and utilitarian sinks and countertops. The powder room is experiencing a bathroom design Renaissance that is a joy to behold, making dynamic statements and setting the tone and theme for the rest of the house.

Gone are the wimpy egg-shell walls, replaced by paints and wallpapers in deep hues for dramatic effect. The theory is, since a small bathroom is never going to be anything but, showcase it, make it stand out. Bamboo reeds, 1-inch tiles, recycled glass and quartz that lighten up the space and still compliment the darker hues, this is the look of the new powder room. Not so much into bold colors? Then consider earth tones and natural materials. Just as dramatic, yet they give the room an open, fresh feel.

Because the powder room is small, accessories should be kept to an uncluttered minimum. On that note, faucets, cabinets, and countertops have become the new accents. Whether traditional or ultra modern, burnished or polished finish, old-fashioned curves or reed-slim design, coming out of the wall or attached to the countertop, faucets can make a bold statement about the theme of your powder room.

At one time, bathroom cabinets were either made of wood or non-existent if your bathroom had a pedestal sink. Today, the design of bathroom cabinets is only limited by your imagination. Glass, ceramic, granite, antique cabinets, salvage yard finds, something as simple as a custom-designed shelf—the possibilities are limitless.

The same goes for bathroom countertops. Once tile or single-mold plastic with a sink in the middle, today’s countertops come in a variety of colors, textures, and materials such as stainless steel, natural lavasone, and wood. Quartz and blown glass are bright, reflective, and famous for their durability.

Sinks also make a statement. Vessel-type sinks are particularly popular, and often sit on top of what looks more like a piece of furniture than a bathroom cabinet. The also set the tone of the room, from old fashioned to modern, and come in a wide range of materials such as marble, glass, stainless steel, bronze, and textured ceramics.

Bathroom lighting, once treated as only a necessity in a powder room, now contributes to the overall effect and theme. The new bathroom lighting scheme says it’s better to over-light than under-light, as you can always use a dimmer switch to help set the mood. Under counter lighting helps create depth and enhance space.

Today’s concept-driven powder room, while small, still makes a big statement about you and your home. With a sense of fun and a little imagination, you can turn this mysterious little bathroom into a showcase for your distinct voice and sense of style.

By Keby Boyer

If the world is anything, it’s hilly. Some might even say down right mountainous. That uneven lawn upon which your house sits has more in common with backyards in Greece and New England than you think. Whether it’s in a city like San Francisco or acreage in the Australian outback, the one complaint numerous home owners have about their landscape design is the wasted space in their yards due to varying ground levels, gullies, and steep slopes.

More and more, people are turning to the beauty and practicality of a retaining wall to help even out their lawns, as level building sites for homes become more and more rare. Ideal locations for retaining walls include sloped landscapes, where water runoff causes hillside erosion and uneven land levels. The idea is to increase the area of usable land through innovative landscape design.

And that’s where retaining walls come in.

The different types of retaining walls include: timber, interlocking blocks, stacked stone, brick or block, and concrete. Even a 4-foot-high, 15 foot long retaining wall can hold back up to 20 tons of saturated soil and add beauty to a property. Following step-by-step instruction, any handy homeowner can include a simple 4-foot-high, 15-foot long retaining wall in their lawns’ landscape architecture—a weekend project for the handy. For anything higher or longer, you should hire a professional landscaper to make sure the wall is structurally sound and will remain standing for years to come.

When it comes to any landscape renovations, it always best to start with the basics—keeping what you build standing. The downfall of most retaining walls is poor drainage. That’s why a good retaining wall begins with landscape fabric, backfill, and 4-inch perforated drainpipe. In preparing the foundation, excavation depends on frost depth as well as the wall you’re building and the soil type.

Timber walls are only moderately more challenging to build than stone, but are not as long-lived. Also, timber pieces are difficult and unwieldy to handle by yourself and don’t always fit in with the overall landscape design.

Interlocking blocks are mortar-free and easy to assemble. The blocks are small and can curve, wrap, and turn, offering an appealing option to a straight wall in your landscape architecture. Stone offers a handsome, European appeal. Like stone, brick is attractive, though a bit more formal. On the down side, mortared brick and stone are more difficult to work with, especially if you have no experience building a retaining wall.

Finally, concrete is perhaps the strongest and most reliable of retaining wall materials, as concrete walls are strong, reliable, and rarely fail. On the other hand, concrete blocks are not very attractive and tend to detract from a flowing landscape design.

Besides being beautiful and creating a flair for the dramatic, retaining walls are imminently practical and carefully engineered to keep nature at bay. Not only are they beautiful to look at, they provide extra, useable ground where there previously wasn’t any. They also restrain tons of soil that might otherwise slide over landscape or eventually destroy foundation walls.

By:  Danielle McVicar

Fabric window treatments, such as drapes and curtains, are a good way to decorate a room.  Curtain fabrics can add a variety of color and texture to complement any décor.  Many people choose their curtains or drapes based on color alone and do not take into consideration what kind of fabric they are made from.  Depending on the atmosphere you are trying to create, fabric can play a key role in choosing your window treatments.

Of all the fabric used to make curtains and drapes the most commonly used are cotton, linen, silk, velvet, and polyester.  Each fabric offers different benefits and drawbacks which are important to consider when choosing window curtains or drapery.

Cotton is perhaps the most commonly used fabric in window treatments.  It is available in an array of colors, textures, designs and weights which makes it a good decorating choice.  It is a very durable and versatile fabric and is also extremely easy to clean.  However, heavy exposure to sunlight can weaken some types of cotton fabric, and cotton is also easily stretched, shrunk and wrinkled.

Linen is also a natural fabric, created from flax.  Linen is also a popular choice for window treatments because it blends well with other types of fabrics.  It comes in a large selection of colors and weights, although heavy-weighted linen is the most commonly used.  The drawback to linen is that it is prone to crease and wrinkle.

Silk is another natural fabric that is very popular among window coverings.  It is a very soft and lavish fabric and adds warmth and splendor to any room.  Silk also comes in many rich colors and weights, but heavy-weighted silk is the most practical for curtains or drapes.  It holds its shape exceptionally well and doesn’t crease as easily as other fabrics but it is not very durable.  Silk is easily marked or stained and will deteriorate over time from heavy sunlight.  Also, silk is a much more expensive choice compared to other fabrics.

Velvet is another luxurious-looking fabric used for window coverings.  It has a very soft feel and is heavy-weighted and thick, making it a good choice for blocking out sunlight.  Although velvet has a rich appearance it is a relatively inexpensive choice for curtains or drapes.  The disadvantages of velvet are that it is very hard to clean and that it has such a distinct look it is hard to blend with other fabrics.

Polyester is another option that is commonly used for window treatments.  It is very affordable and comes in a large selection of colors.  Polyester doesn’t crease or wrinkle easily, is exceptionally strong and durable and is also very easy to clean.  The only downside to this type of fabric is that it tends to pill, peel or flake, when rubbed against frequently.

Although these are some of the most common fabrics used for window curtains or drapery there are still many more kinds of fabrics that can be used.  Determining your specific needs before you choose your fabric will greatly help you make your decision.

By:  Danielle McVicar

Color is an extremely important factor when it comes to decorating, but it doesn’t just apply to your walls.  Window coverings can make a huge difference in the appearance of your décor and deserve just as much attention in choosing a color scheme as any other part of the room.

Many people stick with traditional, neutral colors for their window coverings, but in today’s world window coverings are a great way to add some excitement and creativity to your room.  Don’t be afraid to grab a color wheel and try out some different and unusual color schemes for your windows; you’ll be surprised how much your décor is affected by mixing different colors and shades.

You can select color combinations of two or more colors; three is generally the rule of thumb, but don’t let that hinder your decision.  You could also choose one color and use varying shades and tones of that same color to create a softer look.  Choosing the perfect color scheme for you windows will have an interesting impact on your room.  By using the color as a focal point, you are able to change the overall feel of a room, making it look warm and inviting or open and spacious.  Bright colors against a lighter background will make the window appear larger and light colors against and darker background will make the window appear smaller.

Colored patterns are also an option available for your window coverings.  Bright, funky patterns can spice up a room with an interesting twist and more traditional patterns can blend into your décor while adding a touch of sophistication.  You can mix patterns with solid colors to help them blend into the décor or you can let the pattern stand alone and become an interesting focal point of your room.

Make sure that you observe how your colors appear at different times of the day with different lighting as this will affect the overall look of your room.  Your window coverings may match perfectly with your décor in the morning with the sun shining, but without the sun at night they might clash terribly with the rest of the room.

And of course, if choosing colors for your window coverings seems too difficult a task, you can always hire a professional interior designer to help you make your color choices.

By:  Danielle McVicar

An easy and effective way to add a touch of sophistication to any décor is to include sheer curtains in your window treatments.  Sheer curtains refer to any lightweight or partially see-through fabric that is used for window coverings, including lace, voiles, nets, muslin, etc.  A set of sheer curtains can add both beauty and practicality to your room.

Sheer curtains can be paired with a heavier set of drapery or can be used alone.  It is recommended to use a heavier curtain along with sheers in rooms that require a certain amount of privacy, such as bedrooms, so that complete privacy is an option.  Sheers are a good way to filter light in a room during the day due to their partial transparency; they soften harsh sunlight while still allowing some to enter the room.  They also can provide a small amount of privacy during the day without having to sacrifice sunlight.

When used alone, sheer curtains can add a romantic and whimsical touch to a room’s atmosphere.  Sheers come in a variety of different sizes and colors and can be blended together easily.  More ornamental sheers are also available, decorated with embroidery, creating a soft and elegant look and are perfect to hang unaccompanied by other curtains.

Sheers are perfect for decorating your windows not only because of the elegance and stylishness they exude, but also because of their simplicity and affordability.  Sheer window coverings are relatively inexpensive when compared to other kinds of window treatments and are easy to maintain.  They are extremely versatile and can be diffused with almost any decorating style.  If you fell like your décor needs a change, consider spicing up your window treatments with some sheer curtains!

By: Kelly Goldthorpe

Windows allow natural light to come into your home, but they are also an important component in the design of your home. When renovating your house you should consider the window style, type of window pane, and window placement. There is a wide variety of window styles, each with different benefits, ranging from increase light and natural air flow to enhanced privacy. Below is a breakdown of the main window types.

Casement Windows:

These windows open outward by turning a lever, instead of moving up and down. This makes them great for areas that are hard to reach, where lifting up may be a problem. They are very energy efficient windows and provide a nice sideways breeze, guiding the wind inward.

Double Hung Windows:

Double hung windows are the most common style found within a home. They slide up and down and can be opened on either the top half or the bottom half. A nice feature of these is that they can be modified for home security purposes by installing a screw that will prevent the window from opening any further than desired. These are classic and can be placed anywhere in your home, more frequently in the living rooms and bedrooms.

Awning Windows:

Allowing for more privacy with moderate ventilation, awning windows open inward and are positioned horizontally. These are less popular within homes, but certainly a welcome addition.

Bay Windows:

Bay windows jut out from the house, providing three window panes which allow light to stream in. If large enough, you may install a window seat in the area that extends from the home, creating a peaceful nook. These add a unique edge to your home and make it appear multi-dimensional.

Arch Windows:

These are semi-circle windows which are most commonly seen above doors or other windows. Their unique shape adds style to a more traditional window setting. There are also full circle windows that are popular in stairwells or in attic spaces.

Picture Windows:

For display only, picture windows do not open but are typically large enough that they add a beautiful amount of light to a room. Picture windows are also excellent for showing off beautiful scenery or landscaping that may surround your house. The large size of the pane may make it vulnerable to breakage though. These look magnificent when draped in curtains or other window treatments.

By: Kelly Goldthorpe

You may have learned some natural cleaning methods from your parents, but when it comes to bathroom plumbing most people don’t know that there are some effective techniques that you can use. The clogged drain is a problem which persists in any household, especially in those with long-haired occupants. To clear an obstructed pipe you don’t need to purchase toxic gels, instead you can use household products for an eco-friendly approach.

If you ever went to an elementary or middle school science fair you saw at least one exploding volcano project at the science fair. Typically those are constructed using a simple combination of baking soda and vinegar. These two ingredients make a great explosive volcanic eruption, but they also work equally as well for drain cleaning. Don’t worry, your pipes won’t explode with magma. Here’s how to do it.

Try running hot water down the drain to clear out as much of the clog as possible. Once you’ve done an initial cleanse and if the clog persists then pour about ½ – 1 cup of baking soda down your drain. Follow with 1-2 cups of vinegar. You must immediately seal off the drain, by either using the plug or a towel. Just as the volcano erupts upward, you want a similar eruption to occur, but in the opposite direction. The force of the chemical reaction will take out the clog. Keep the pipe sealed off for 15-30 minutes. Boil some water in the meantime, and pour the water down the drain once the time has elapsed.

This should cure your clogged drain. If not, try the process one or two more times, the clog might be very persistent. To avoid extensive clogs, perform this about once a month to flush out any debris that may be building up.

By:  Danielle McVicar

Decorative painting is an easy and great way to add some style to your home.  Plain, painted walls can be a little boring, so why not liven them up with one of these exciting techniques!

• Stenciling- This easy-to-do technique involves the use of a stencil, which you can buy at any craft or home improvement store.  Stenciling is very simple; after you’ve picked out a stencil and paint you merely place the stencil wherever you want on your wall and paint it.  You can use stenciling to create an elaborate border around a room or just a fun accent here or there.
• Sponging- This technique is also relatively easy to do.  A sponging effect is created by using a sponge to apply another color of paint over a base color.  A natural sea sponge offers the best  texture, but any kind of sponge will work.  You can use any colors that you want, but most sponging consists of using a darker shade of the base color to create an elegant and contrasting look.
• Ragging- This technique is very similar to sponging except in the place of a sponge you use a rag, which adds a more distinguishable texture to your walls.  Any kind of rag will work, and you can use as many colors as you want.
• Crinkle paper painting- This technique employs the use of tissue paper to add texture to your walls.  You simply adhere tissue paper to your walls when they’re wet with paint, crinkling them however you wish, and then paint over the top of them.  This technique gives your walls an elegant and antiqued looking finish.
• Dragging- Also known as strie painting, this technique is created by dragging a dry brush over wet, thinned paint to produce an interesting and attractive pattern.  You must continually dry the brush as you go to keep it dry and use as little paint as possible.  You can essentially create any kind of pattern you wish, but generally this dragging yields a checkered-like pattern consisting of vertical and horizontal overlapping strokes.

Make sure that you thoroughly clean and prepare the walls before you start painting.  This may not seem like an important step, but by cleaning you will insure that loose dust and dirt won’t fall or mix into your paint, which could affect the outcome of your efforts.  Also, be sure to cover the floor and any furniture in the room as well as tape off all trim to prevent drips or paint splatters from ruining them.

By:  Danielle McVicar

Exterior paint not only makes your home more attractive and appealing to the eye, it also protects your house from fading, moisture, and temperature changes.  The average house needs its exterior repainted once every six to eight years, but with all the different kinds of exterior paint available, choosing one for your house can be difficult, even more so if you don’t know the differences between them.

The two main types of exterior paint available are latex paint and alkyd paint.  Although there are many more specialty types of outside paint, these two types represent the vast majority of the market.

Latex paint is the most common and popular paint available for purchase.  It is water-based, which makes it flexible and able to expand with the siding of the house in changing temperatures.  Latex paint is also breathable, which means that it won’t trap moisture and won’t crack and peel.  In addition to being nearly odorless, latex paint dries relatively fast, generally taking between one and six hours to fully dry.  Also, being water-based means these paints clean up easily and are environmentally friendly.

However, latex paint is sensitive to the cold, and should never be allowed to freeze before it is dry or else it will be severely damaged.  Also, compared to oil-based paint latex paint has a tendency to show brush strokes after it has dried.

Alkyd paint is oil-based, and is preferred by professional painters because of its smoother finish and fewer roller/brush marks.  Alkyd paint is durable, stain resistant, and can be sprayed on with paint sprayer rather than a paint brush.  It is extremely wearable, has a more level flow and leveling, and has better surface penetration than latex paint.

There are drawbacks to using alkyd paint as well.  Alkyd paint has a very strong smell due to the high level of volatile organic chemicals.  The smell lingers for quite a while after the paint has dried and is harmful if ventilation is not allowed.  Also, because alkyd paint achieves a smoother finish, it takes longer to dry compared to latex paint, approximately eight to 24 hours.  It also sags if it is applied to thickly.

Both types of paint have their benefits and drawbacks, but after determining your specific needs you should be able to pick the one that is best suited for your home.