It’s already hot and I’ve been feeling really lazy lately but I wanted to quickly post some recent recalls. The first is for a chest freezer. While these are usually placed in the garage for extra storage a potential fire hazard deems it worthy of a mention.
Haier America is recalling about 41,000 chest freezers manufactured in China under their name and the”Black and Decker” name due to a faulty circuit board. The board can overheat and potentially cause a fire. This recall is an expansion of an earlier recall in November 2010.
If you own one of these freezers, try to find a place to store the freezer’s contents so you can unplug it as soon as possible. Call Haier America; toll-free at (877) 878-7579 from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. ET to schedule your free repair.
The next recall comes from one of my favorite lighting manufacturers. Currey and Company is recalling 10 models of chandeliers manufactured by YQF Lighting Manufacturer Co, LTD, of China due to defective wiring that could potentially shock you when trying to change a light bulb.
At this time, there are no reported incidents of electrical shock to consumers, however the hazard exists. If you have the following fixtures, you should disconnect the power and contact Currey and Company for a free replacement or repair toll-free at 877-617-1032 from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. ET or send them an email at: recall@curreyco.com.
Check the canopy label to see if your model is part of the recall. Most chandeliers are 21″ wide and 55″ high and were sold between January 2010 and February 2013.
New Ravenna Mosaics has introduced a new tile collection in collaboration with designer Paul Schatz. The Miraflores Collection contains 18 natural-stone mosaic designs inspired by Paul Schatz’s travels throughout the Latin countries of Spain, Portugal and Mexico.
The hand crafted mosaics are complex abstractions of classic Moroccan motifs. Miraflores which means “to watch flowers” in Spanish has a storied legacy of palaces, monasteries and neighborhoods in Spain and South America. The mosaics can be installed as floors and walls, inside and out.
If you haven’t seen it yet, you should check out Blanco‘s newest color for their Siligranit II sinks – Cinder
The Cinder colorway has a dark gray, natural, stone-like appearance that gives the Silgranit II sinks the ability to stand out and be a stunning companion to a wide range of countertop colors and materials.
Made of 80% rock-hard granite, the Silgranit II sinks never fade, resist scratches, heat, food acids and impact. They also have an impermeable Hygienic+Plus surface that is proven to act as a shield to dirt and bacteria, making it safe for food prep.
Shown on the Modex sink, the 3″ edge makes a dramatic statement in any kitchen.
I try to specify a USB receptacle in almost every kitchen project I work on.
Designed to replace conventional duplex receptacles, it allows you to plug your mobile phones, tablets and other electronic devices into the wall without the need for a bulky AC adapter.
The 15-amp receptacle has been around for a little while. But, many people do not know that a 20-amp receptacle is also available. This is good news for owners of devices - like iPads, that need more juice.
The 20 Amp USB Charger/Tamper-Resistant Receptacle offers 2.1 amps of charging power inside a 20-amp, 125-volt tamper-resistant receptacle.
The two USB ports on the Leviton receptacle are designed for use with different devices, depending on their power draw.
The USB port on the left will output up to 0.7A, while the USB port on the right is capable of up to 2.1A. The right port also incorporates an auto-sensing chip, which will properly adjust the amps depending on the device connected.
You’ll need to install a second receptacle if you plan to charge more than one higher current device at a time.
Each item in Leviton’s USB Charger/Tamper-Resistant Receptacle line is designed to fit in a standard wallbox, use a standard wallplate and can be multi-ganged with any standard Leviton wiring device.
The Leviton in-wall USB charger comes in White (T5630-W) and Light Almond (T5630-T) and retails for around $21 and $26.
Silestone now offers a new transferable, limited 15-year warranty for North American residential applications when purchased through an authorized installer or dealer.
In addition to covering the permanently installed countertops, the warranty also extends to the company’s Integrity sinks.
Warranties must be activated within 60 days of installation to be eligible under the new program.
Warranty registrations can be activated and Transfer of Ownership can be filled out by visiting http://www.consentiowarranty.com.
Lighting Science Group is recalling their 120-volt LED bulbs, sold as 6- 8- and 9-watt bulbs (equivalent to 40 or 50 watts), marketed under the brand names Definity, EcoSmart, Sylvania and Westinghouse due to fire hazard. There have been 68 reports of visible smoke or fire due to product failure.
The model numbers A19, G25 and R20/PAR20 are found on the packaging and on the light-colored circular neck above the base of the bulb where the date code is also printed. The date code reflects the week and year of manufacture; for example date code L4010 was produced during the 40th week of 2010. The date codes listed below may have the letters “CH ” or “MX ” at the end. For example, date code L4010 can also appear as L4010CH or L4010MX. The date codes are:’
The 554,000 recalled bulbs were manufactured in China with final assembly in Florida or Mexico. They were sold at various retailers. See the chart below for Date Codes.
If you have a recalled bulb, remove it from the light immediately and contact Lighting Science Group toll-free at (855) 574-2533 from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, or online at http://www.lsgc.com/recall for a replacement.
I’ve been meaning to set out some Spring decor and now Easter is almost here. I love this project which Martha Stewart did back in 2000 using herbs as a mask for Easter Eggs.
If the weather is too cold to collect plants from outside for your eggs, use fresh herbs from the grocery store, flowers from a bouquet, or even small house plants.
Materials:
•Hard boiled or dry blown out white eggs
•Your favorite egg dye and paints (store-bought or try the recipes I wrote about last year.)
•Old pantyhose – cut into segments 4-5″
•Fresh botanical specimens
•Paper Towels
Directions:
Gather all the supplies you’ll need. Snip herbs into small usable sizes. Wet the herbs on the back so they stick to the egg shell. Wrap the eggs in the pantyhose and secure with a string or rubber band. Dye the eggs following the directions for your dye of choice. Let dry for afew minutes. Carefully remove the hose and blot any excess dye with a paper towel.
Have a Happy Easter!
This Summer Samsung will start offering the T9000 FlexDuo Range NE58F9710SR with first ever 30″ multifunction oven.
Samsung’s FlexDuo technology will allow you to divide the oven into two compartments for cooking two dishes at once making meal time more efficient and more convenient than ever before.
You can choose between using the range’s full size 5.8 cu. ft. capacity oven for larger dishes like roasted turkeys, or you can use the Smart Divider to divide the oven into 2.4 cu. ft. and 3.3 cu. ft. top and bottom compartments for smaller items like dinner and a dessert.
The Samsung NE597N0PBSR Induction Range is the first-ever 30″ freestanding electric range to feature the FlexCook Zone and Samsung Boil Alert, as well as SteamQuick technology.
The Flexcook zone acts as a full-length bridge element, letting customers cook large pots and pans across one large induction element without having to worry about incomplete heat distribution. When the bridge element is not in use, it can be used as two separate 9-inch elements.
Samsung’s Boil Alert technology senses small vibrations as water begins to heat up. When the vibrations reach a certain level, the range provides less heat and also sounds a series of beeps.
SteamQuick technology is Samsung’s new cleaning innovation which requires less time, power and effort. 10 pounces of water is all that is needed to clean your oven in just 20 minutes.
The NE58F9710SR FlexDuo Range should be available for $2,399.99 MSRP and the NE597N0PBSR Induction Range should be available for $1,999.99 MSRP.
Pair one of these ranges with Samsung’s ME179KFETSR OTR Speed Oven if you have limited space and need more convection cooking. This microwave is touted as having best-in-class LED lighting. $649 MSRP.
Based on color directions identified by Global Color Research, a London-based creative color consultant, DuPont brings new colors that capture the dramatic and subtle qualities from nature that include veining, earth tones, warm hues and fluid patterns.
Eight of the nine new Corian colors will be in the Private Collection group. The 9th new color is an attractive solid gray.
The three new colors of DuPont Zodiaq for 2013 will provide some exciting aesthetic differentiation. Two of the colors that have been added to the Zodiaq palette – Coarse Carrara and Coarse Marfil - offer fluid, consistent veining similar to the veining often found in marble. The 3rd new color of Zodiaq is a reflection of the popularity of neutral colors; Snow Flurry is a frosted white color with intricate gray flecks.
2103 Color Directions
Solidify:
Solidify was inspired by global climatic changes and how our high-tension atmosphere can create crystallized and frosted solids. The cool tones of this trend are misted and sensorial, as melded metal and mirrored flecks are set within frosted solids for depth and dimension. The surfaces are fractured and scattered fragments are fused, creating delicate and ethereal patterns that bring a softly opulent edge to these hard surfaces.
Interference:
Interference explores the lure of semi-precious stones, with a feeling of sparkle and glamour, yet with an understated opulence that conveys mystical and organic luxury. Bronze is a key metallic shade and when juxtaposed with subtle finishes and earthy textures, reflects the warm tints of raw sienna and terra-cotta.
Raw:
Raw represents honest luxury, and the fresh hues that follow this trend embody comfort in a down-to-earth aesthetic that offers a respite from daily realities. Here, organic, yet polished effects are blended to celebrate the natural world and emulate plant materials and other natural fibers that are encased in transparency.
Axor continues to add to its collection of high-design kitchen and bath fittings with beautiful creations from Philippe Starck and Antonio Citterio.
Axor Starck Kitchen:
The company has added three new designs to its Starck Kitchen line: HighArc, Prep, and Bar faucets, all available in chrome or steel optik finishes. The 17-1/2-inch-high HighArc faucet has a pull-down handle and 2 spray options.
The line’s pot fillers add versatility with wall- and deck-mounted versions. All faucets in the line have ceramic cartridges and swivel spouts.
Axor Citterio Kitchen:
Citterio has designed a new faucet and two pot fillers. The Citterio M 2-Hole Kitchen Faucet has an M2 ceramic cartridge and pull-down spray head integrated with Hansgrohe’s QuickClean technology that helps resist lime scale formation. Its swivel spout comes with an optional extension set.
Like the Starck collection, the pot fillers are available in wall- or deck-mounted designs, and all three elements in the line come in chrome or steel optic finishes.
Small Vanity
