We give thanks for unknown blessings already on their way.

After air heating and cooling, home water heating is the largest in residential energy consumption. Hot water heaters are responsible for about 17% of residential energy use.

The new industry-exclusive GE Hybrid Electric Water Heater is designed to provide the same hot water homeowners are accustomed to, but requires only about half the energy to produce it.

The water heater first uses a heat pump to bring the water up to the temperature of the ambient air. Then the electric water heater takes over, bringing the water up to 140 degrees F. This takes longer than direct heating but it only consumes 550 watts of power. If you need more power for visitor’s showers, then the electric element kicks in providing more hot water with a shorter recovery time.

The GE Hybrid Electric Water Heater is designed for easy installation because it uses the existing water and electrical connections and occupies the same footprint as a traditional tank water heater, making it perfect for new construction or a replacement upgrade.

A 30% federal tax credit may kick in for those qualified, alongside some state side Energy Star savings.

* Consumes up to 62%* less energy than a standard electric water heater
* Results in energy savings of $320 per year*
* Exceeds ENERGY STAR® minimum requirements of 2.0 Energy Factor (EF) with 2.35 EF
* Available  November 2009 in 50 gallon size

A 24″ range is a great appliance for a tiny kitchen.  While the choices were once slim, today there are many to choose from. 

Fisher & Paykel smooth top range
This little gem has a sleek glass top and a warming drawer with moisture selector. The self clean cycle makes it great for a busy home.

BlueStar Range with swing door
The versatility of this all-gas range makes it a favorite.  The griddle top is a must for a vacation home.

American Range commercial grade range
This range offers sealed burners with infinite controls and multiple oven settings including convection.  The large glass door makes keeping an eye on food easy.

Vulcan restuarant-style 24″ range
This little powerhouse offers 115,000 total BTU with the oven totalling 35,000 BTU.  Option casters are available too.

Avanti  duel fuel range
If you prefer a duel fuel range, the Avanti is a great choice.  It’s self-cleaning oven reaches temperatures between 120 and 480 degrees.  If you are really tight on space, Avanti also offers 20″ ranges.

Smeg gas range
This beautiful range comes in all gas or a dual fuel model.  Heavy duty continuous grates can handle the largest of pots.  9 cooking modes are available as well as an electronic cooking display. Optional LP conversion kit is also available.

As I was strolling the world wide web this past week I found some great items I thought I’d share starting with this incredible white kitchen in a Barn-style home in Sag Harbour from Emma and her great Blog White and Wander.  I love the commercial-style faucet and industrial stainless steel surfaces paired with the clean white shelving filled with glasses and clay pitchers.  Check out her other posts filled with lost of interior goodness.

The Laurel Hedges has a fun post that tells of the little known secret that a powerful exhaust fan in a couple’s bathroom lowers the chance of divorce.  Millie blogs to get away from the men in her life ( she has 5 sons!) and her posts are refreshing and filled with wonderful little gems.

Small kitchens are hard to design because they still have to have all the appliances found in larger kitchens and at least a little storage.  I think Chris Welsh did a fabulous job on this alcove kitchen featured on Alicia B. Designs with her tips on how to maximise small kitchen space.

If you have missed the magazine Domino then you will love the new online magazine, Lonny.  Eddie Ross introduced me to the new publication on his blog.  His beautiful farmhouse has a fabulous spread in the 200 or so page publication.  I love what he and his partner did with their butler’s pantry. Everything is beautifully organized and very accessible.

As Miele kitchens re-brands itself and takes on the name of the German town in which the company is based – Warendorf - it is making this change with a new kitchen destined to make a significant impact.

They’ve chosen one of the biggest names in design – Philippe Starck – to develop the first kitchen under the new brand.

Starck has created a kitchen design that represents something of a departure, both emotionally and functionally, from the traditional wall-to-wall arrangement of the fitted kitchen.

He calls the concept “democratic design” because its wide range of individual elements and the ability to combine them in different ways gives it potentially wide appeal to a range of consumers, lifestyles and spaces.

Starck’s first kitchen design concept, Starck by Warendorf, is complemented by functional tables that can be integrated into every Philippe Starck kitchen but may also be used as a standalone concept. It is a modular system made up of kitchen elements and individual pieces that leave all interior design options open.

A key element of the Starck by Warendorf concept is the way it combines living functions with the functions of eating and food preparation.

Starck does this with a number of specific design references. His bookshelf-style elements are intended to combine culture and food in the domestic kitchen. The bar-style counters are a response to the changed dynamic governing meal times.

Starck has banished visible appliances from these kitchen designs. Refrigerators, freezers, dishwashers, ovens etc are all concealed behind handleless unit fronts. The accompanying exhaust hoods disappear into the ceiling when not in use.

New research suggests that many shower heads are teeming with Mycobacterium avium, a bacteria that can cause lung disease. Should you be worried?

Researchers from the University of Colorado conducted  tests on 45 different shower heads from nine cities in the United States, using genetic testing to reveal bacteria that can’t be detected by the usual method of growing them in a dish.

The type and number of bacteria in shower heads varied from place to place, often corresponding roughly with levels of bacteria in the water supply. However, one type of bacteria, called mycobacteria, appeared in higher numbers inside shower heads. The researchers think these bacteria form a waxy biofilm that’s not easily washed away by water.

The most noteworthy finding was a species called Mycobacterium avium. It’s common, often found in water and soil, and about 20 percent of the swabs gave test results suggesting that Mycobacterium avium could be present. Mycobacterium avium does have the potential to make people ill, although the immune system of a healthy person will almost always keep this germ in check.

“If you are getting a face full of water when you first turn your shower on, that means you are probably getting a particularly high load of Mycobacterium avium, which may not be too healthy,” said lead researcher Norman Pace.

Since most people do not stand facing the shower when they first turn it on  and attempt to swallow the first water that comes out there is no reason to be alarmed.

“[The study] is nothing to freak out about because most germs don’t hurt you,” says Philip M. Tierno Jr., PhD, the director of clinical microbiology and immunology at New York University Langone Medical Center. People come into contact with 60,000 types or groups of bacteria on a regular basis, says Tierno. “Only one or two percent are pathogenic,” he explains.

If all this talk of bacteria has you worried,  before you rush off to bleach your showerhead know that mycobacteria will slowly grow back. When researchers did try treating one shower head with diluted bleach, they ended up with a greater proportion of some (harmless) bacteria in subsequent tests.

Metal showerheads appear to be less likely than plastic showerheads to grow biofilm, according to the researchers. Tierno recommends taking a steel brush and good cleaning solution to wash out metal showerheads or replacing them once a year or more frequently, like they do in hospitals.

If you are still feeling scared that your immune system will not protect you consider taking cold showers since bacteria thrive in warm, moist environments.

New color trends presented recently by Sherwin Williams reaquaints designers with the past for inspiration in the near future.

Rooted

Rich, earthy colors associated with African, Aboriginal, and Native American cultures.  Inspiration comes from members of Ethiopian tribes who paint their bodies with green and red pigments sourced from volcanic ash, as well as weeds, grasses, and shells. The deep teal and ash gray of African wildlife and landscapes, as well as the bright designs of the locals’ textiles and beads, also serves a launching point for new designs.

Simplified 

Lines are well-tailored and clear, translucent materials that reveal shape and structure. This is a nod to the Bauhaus style of architecture, with its absence of ornamentation and its harmony between form and function. A current example of this trend is Guggenheim Museum.

Treasured

Elements are weathered and the design is enhance  by organic aging. An example is the Rough Luxe Hotel in the United Kingdom, where the original layers of peeling paint and ancient wallpaper are still visible on the walls. This “less-than-perfect aesthetic” also includes the use of distressed leather, vintage tapestries, found objects, and patina.

Refreshed

Bright, energized floral colors that evoke optimism and exuberance.  “Flower power” of 1960s vintage, with a hippie spirit makes a return. Lemonade yellow, crisp green, and vivacious violet are among the colors that play into this theme.  These vibrant colors comes partly as a response to the challenging times and a need for something positive to balance out the stress many are currently facing.

When it comes to new trends in kitchen faucets, manufacturers are introducing new designs that are not only utilitarian-chic and of minimalist design, they also fold.

When space is a premium, the Tac Tac geometric faucet by Ritmonio is an ideal choice.  For a wall mount option, the folding Karbon by Kohler is the only option.   The folding Snake faucet by Nobili Spa discretely has numerous folding options. The Tower Tech faucet by Cascade is similar to the Snake with fewer folding options but it has more finish choices and is more readily available in North America than it’s Italian counterpart.

Faulty switches in Frigidaire and Kenmore Elite smoothtop ranges are causing about 200,000 ranges sold between 2001 and 2009 to be recalled.

Depending on the model, the range is either turning on by itself or failing to turn off posing a serious fire hazard.

If you own a Frigidaire, Frigidaire Gallery, Frigidaire Professional or Kenmore Elite smoothtop electric ranges with rotary knobs and digital display with the serial numbers listed below unplug it immediately and contact Frigidaire at (800) 449-9812 or Sears at (800) 449-9810 Monday-Friday for your free repair.

Frigidaire is a division of Electrolux Home Products Inc.

The shower is no longer conceived of as a wet cell, but has become an inherent part of a whole room approach to bathroom design – showering is thus defined more and more by curb-less designs that do without shower trays. This style of showers require a new generation of floor drains to help maintain the boundary between wet and dry zones in your bathroom.

There are many advantages to using a linear slot drain in your bathroom shower. The most obvious is the sleek continuous look your shower floor will have.  Removing the shower curb and letting your floor tile cover the the whole area will make your bathroom appear larger.

Quick Drain USA’s high-quality, stainless steel linear slot drains come in various sizes from 32″ to 60″ making it an easy choice for your next project.  These 1 1/2″ wide drains have the lowest profile in the industry and are available with both side and bottom drain outlets. This  linear channel drain is also very easy to clean. Everything is removable (including the shower linear drain cover and strainer).

For curved shower applications ACO Haustechnik has linked up with Glamu to create a free-standing shower enclosure.  The shower drain system holds the curved glass element firmly in place with only one side fixed to a wall.  ACO offers designer grates for their drains with 5 pattern choices that can optionally be lit with colored LEDs.

The Poresta Slot Floor Drain by Illbruck is well suited for the most minimalist bathrooms.  The grateless 7mm drain positioned directly against the wall gives the shower the appearance of having no drain. Water disappears into a barely noticeable shadow gap.