http://www.finaltouchinteriors.com/emotor/index.php/site/index/ The blogging page by Final Touch Interiors, LLC. en aen@finaltouchinteriors.com Copyright 2008 2008-08-05T22:07:45-05:00 http://www.finaltouchinteriors.com/emotor/index.php/site/wood_pellet_stove_purchase/ http://www.finaltouchinteriors.com/emotor/index.php/site/wood_pellet_stove_purchase/#When:22:07:45Z Even though Heating Oil PricesFreestanding Pellet Stove - contemporary style have come down the last couple of days, most Homeowners are struggling to find a suitable replacement or add on for heating their home in Winter time, to compat the huge increases in Energy Costs. Valuable information is hard to come by and many times more like a sales pitch. A product which has been a favorite of mine is the Wood Pellet Stove.The Wood Pellet Stove can be used as a stand alone product or as an insert in your existing Fire Place. When comparing the heating costs of Wood Pellets to Heating Oil one will understand quite quickly how much savings are possible in using a Wood Pellet Stove.Take a look at this very helpfull and valuable Fuel Calculator: Fuel Calculator Traditional Cast Iron Pellet Stove InsertA great Web site to visit with info about Gas-inserts, Wood Stoves and of course Pellet Stoves and Pellet Stove Inserts is the Hearth Forum .Nevertheless, to get you started I listed below some points which are important when considering the purchase of a Wood Pellet Stove Is the wood pellet stove certified by a quality label and a CE compliance label? Is the efficiency rating of the pellet stove above 85% at maximum load? Did an independent testing institute in USA test the stove's emissions and efficiency? What is the noise level from the stove? Is the sound level at low output less than 43dBa? Does the pellet stove have a convection air fan for good heat distribution? Is the stove self-modulating according to the heat demand? Does the stove offer any standby feature for a less pellet fuel consumption? Does the stove have a large ash pan? What kind of room temperature regulation (thermostat) does the stove have to avoid overheating? What kind of safety features has the stove? Does the stove design allow for easy cleaning of the internal flue passages? What kind of flame pattern and view does the stove give? Location of Wood Pellet Stove Is the stove heat output adequate for the room it is going to be located in? Is the stove located to allow sufficient clearance with combustible surfaces and materials? Is there a properly wired outlet for electricity near the stove location? Is their enough fresh air supply to the stove for a safe and efficient combustion? If not, how can outside air be drawn from an appropriate location? Venting (chimney or flue pipe) for Pellet Stove Is there provision for appropriate access to maintain and clean the venting system? Is the minimum clearance between the vent and combustible materials respected? Does the existing or proposed vent comply with the stove manufacturer's instructions? Does the venting system recommended take into consideration local factors like altitude, windy conditions, internal negative pressure (in very airtight houses or due to strong fans)? Installation and Building Inspectors approval Does the dealer offer delivery, installation, local building inspectors approval and after sales service? Is the floor protected according to the pellet stove manufacturer's instructions? What training and experience have the professionals involved in the installation? How long will the installation take? Who cleans up after the installation work? Are the joints and seams of the vent pipes properly sealed to avoid exhaust gas leakage in the room? What are the procedure and tests carried out when commissioning the system? Operation and maintenance of Wood Pellet Stove Is full documentation, including the user's manual, provided with the stove? Is the fire started manually or automatically? What is the pellet storage capacity of the stove and how long can it operate with one refill at nominal heat output BTU's? What kind of wood pellets (quality and size) have to be used with the stove? What maintenance tasks have to be performed by a professional and how regularly? What is the range of annual costs (fuel and maintenance) under average conditions? How often do I have to empty the ash pan? Does the dealer have spare parts available? Costs and Payments for Wood Pellet Stove Does the quotation cover all the costs associated with the installation of the stove (stove, vent) installation/delivery, floor protection)? What are the financing options and payment terms? After-sales services for Wood Pellet Stove What is the manufacturer's or supplier's warranty for each component of the pellet heating system? What guarantees / warranties are provided for the installation? Is an annual service contract available from the Dealer or Pellet Stove Supplier? How does the Dealer provide emergency service work if required Does the Dealer help in furnishing Wood Pellets for a reasonable price and deliver to home? Home-Energy 2008-08-05T22:07:45-05:00 http://www.finaltouchinteriors.com/emotor/index.php/site/custom_colored_carpet_for_40_square_yard_minimum/ http://www.finaltouchinteriors.com/emotor/index.php/site/custom_colored_carpet_for_40_square_yard_minimum/#When:15:16:59Z When looking for wall to wall carpets, one always faces the issue of colors. Manufacturers mostly run the Style of their Carpet only in six or eight colorways. Sometimes the offered color is acceptable, but mostly it’s just a compromise. It does not have to be that way. One of the best custom programs on the market is called 7/40 Color Select program by GLEN EDEN Wool Carpets. Do you need to change the background color of your choose wool carpet, or maybe it’s only the accent color? It is no problem with the “7/40 Color Select” program by Glen Eden. It is very simply. Take any running line tufted carpet product, pick the colors you want to change and we send them to the Carpet Mill of Glen Eden. Once they receive the desired color requests for your Wall to Wall Carpet, they will send us in return color poms for approvil in seven working days. Approve the pom and up we go. It is that simple. The Color you desire or need is just a simple choice away. So next time you are in need to change colors on your Broadloom Carpet, give Final Touch Interiors a call at (914) 769-3343 for special pricing and further details. Or stop by at their Westchester/NY Showroom in Hawthorne. Find your way to Final Touch Interiors Floor Coverings 2008-06-16T15:16:59-05:00 http://www.finaltouchinteriors.com/emotor/index.php/site/logans_square_and_reserve_new_wool_carpet_introductions_by_glen_eden/ http://www.finaltouchinteriors.com/emotor/index.php/site/logans_square_and_reserve_new_wool_carpet_introductions_by_glen_eden/#When:01:26:36Z Glen Eden Wool Carpets available at Final Touch Interiors. LLC.Logans Square as well as the Reserve Wool Carpet line come in eight Color ranges. The Construction of both Wool Carpets is in a woven wilton (very durable) which gives the Carpet a Location Guide of Heavy Duty Residential. Further Logans Square and Reserve are both Skein dyed and insect resistant. The Primary Backing is Jute and the secondary Backing is Cotton. Again a natural green environmental wool product by Glen Eden. The Reserve Wool Carpet Line comes in the same beautiful subdued Color Range as Logans Square with the same Color Names. Both Carpets Products suit themselves also very well to be used as Area Rugs and can be bound or serged for a professional and sophisticated look. Floor Coverings 2008-06-03T01:26:36-05:00 http://www.finaltouchinteriors.com/emotor/index.php/site/econet_a_new_area_rug_carpet_padding_goes_green/ http://www.finaltouchinteriors.com/emotor/index.php/site/econet_a_new_area_rug_carpet_padding_goes_green/#When:17:11:00Z As we Consumers all want to become more Earth friendly and are willing to reduce our Carbon Footprint, Manufacturers in the Flooring Industries are continuously working hard in coming up with new improved Products.another Quality Area Rug Pad available at Final Touch Interiors Econet, a new earth friendly premium Area Rug Padding was just recently introduced by Jade Industries, a major Carpet Padding Manufacturer. Following are a couple of points what make this Area Rug Padding a little bit different: Made with natural rubber and jute, a natural plant fiber Perfect for use over laminated wood, wood flooring, tile and other hard surface floors The open grid design of the Carpet Padding lets the Area Rug breathe, eases vacuuming, and additional protects your floor as well as the Area Rug The Econet Area Rug Padding will also not stain, mar or discolor standard flooring It is easy to cut by the End User, so it can fit any rug any size and form The Econet Area Rug Padding is also odor, mildew, mold and vermin resistant As it is important with any good Area Carpet Padding, “Econet” has also great Non-skid propertiesSo if you are in need of a new Area Rug Padding, take a look at World Premium Rug Pads from Final Touch Interiors, or stop by at the New York - Westchester Show Room in Hawthorne, NY. For directions click at the link provided here How to find our Show Room. Floor Coverings 2008-04-18T17:11:00-05:00 http://www.finaltouchinteriors.com/emotor/index.php/site/javascript_thumbnail_viewer/ http://www.finaltouchinteriors.com/emotor/index.php/site/javascript_thumbnail_viewer/#When:19:20:00Z For quite a while I was using on my blogsite 24/7talk interior design a javascript thumbnail viewer which worked out quite well for me, only a 100% validation with W3C was never possible as some of the used expressions were not XHTML compliant. Something that I personally bothered me quite a bit. So after searching for a replacement, I found a new javascript thumbnail viewer which is similar in its capabilities than what I used. I ended up with Highslide JS an open source JavaScript software, offering a Web 2.0 approach to popup windows. As per the Author Thorstein Hons, it does streamlines the use of thumbnail images and HTML pop-ups on web pages. The library offers these features and advantages No plug-ins like Flash or Java required. Pop-up blockers are no problem. The content expands within the active browser window. Single click. After opening the image or HTML popup, the user can scroll further down or leave the page without closing it. Compatibility and safe fallback. If the user has disabled JavaScript or is using an old browser, the browser redirects directly to the image itself or to a fallback HTML page. I started to use some of the code already and except of some small missing necessary CSS adjustments it does perform perfectly and also validates as 100% XHTML. As with any new Software one has to work with it for a while to get used to its strengths and or weaknesses. One reason also that I choose Highslide JS was that the Author has an active Support Forum with great support. CSS 2008-04-02T19:20:00-05:00 http://www.finaltouchinteriors.com/emotor/index.php/site/motorized_sun_shades_for_skylights/ http://www.finaltouchinteriors.com/emotor/index.php/site/motorized_sun_shades_for_skylights/#When:21:37:00Z One effective way in controlling Sunlight and heat in your Home or Office is with Solar Sun Screen fabrics which are used with Roller Shades or Roman Style Window Coverings.Somfy Sun Sensor - Control PanelJust last week we tackled an Issue of Sun protection and Heat in one of my Client’s Home. Our Client wanted a atractive protection from heat and solar glare for his Hallway. A couple Issues we had to deal with: Height of Shade Installation - over 20ft in a narrow Stairway Length of Shade over 15ft Depth of Shade – no possible interference with Smoke/Fire Detectors Visual Attractiveness of Shade – in open as well closed position automated operation required installed Solar Skylight in open position We solved the problem with installing a solar screen skylight shade, controlled by a smart Somfy Sun Sensor and an additional standard Switch control to enable the user to override the opening or closing of the Solar Screen Shade from the smart automated Somfy Sun Sensor. Solar Skylight Shade in retracted position Installation went without any problems and after the usual adjustments, the motorized Solar Sun Screen worked like it should. It will close when the Sun rises (as required) and opens at dawn again to let additional light into the Stairwell. Windowcoverings 2008-03-27T21:37:00-05:00 http://www.finaltouchinteriors.com/emotor/index.php/site/new_technology_for_precise_measuring/ http://www.finaltouchinteriors.com/emotor/index.php/site/new_technology_for_precise_measuring/#When:20:13:00Z Having to go out to Clients Homes or Offices and taking exact measurements has always been a time-consuming task. My solution to this particular issue has been a product called Leica Disto ( a measuring device which measures the distance with a Laserlight - exact to a 1/16" of an inch). perfect tool for precise measuring It is a very versatile Product. Great when measuring Rooms for Floor Covering Products such as Carpets, etc. Very efficient, as one does not have to fiddle along with a long 25' Tape. No Posibility of scratich Furniture or Walls. Specially great when measuring long Hallways of Offices during Business Hours. Like last week, I was out on a Job, measuring a Room for a Lighting Design Project. In a very quick and fast efficient way, I had measured the import Details one needs to know with no running a long 25' Tape across the Room. Even the Client was surprised how fast it went. Or another Example: Modern contemporary Home, one has to measure for large Triangular Windows for Shades. A 25' Tape would be cumbersome and probably not exact either as all the Windows are 15' above Floor and difficult to reach. With the Leica DISTO it was a snap to do. Precise and fast and not time consuming at all. Hunter Douglas Window Fashions now realized the advantages of this Laser Tool now too and just commented in their latest Views Magazine (Magazine for HD Window Fashion Retailers), that they are working on an Interface, which takes the measurements from the Leica DISTO and transfers them into their Ordering System. Something I recommended already several years ago when attending their Training Seminars. Blogging 2008-01-28T20:13:00-05:00 http://www.finaltouchinteriors.com/emotor/index.php/site/kitchen_counter_top_alternatives/ http://www.finaltouchinteriors.com/emotor/index.php/site/kitchen_counter_top_alternatives/#When:16:36:00Z Quartz Surfaces by Caesarstone In my last discussion about Choices of Kitchen Counter Tops, I talked about the use of Quartz Surface Materials for Counter Tops. One of the Products, which we have successfully used for some of our Projects, is made by Caesarstone. Counter Top by CaesarStone It is comprised of up to 93% natural quartz -one of nature's strongest minerals - and backed by a comprehensive warranty. CaesarStone's quartz surfaces, with their properties of stain, crack, scratch, chemical and heat resistance, are the perfect choice for carefree kitchen countertops, bathroom vanities, flooring, tabletops, wallpaneling and more. The Caesarstone's quartz surface never need sealing and require very little maintenance to keep them looking like new. The hard nonporous surface makes cleaning simple. In most cases, soap and water or a mild detergent are all thats required to maintain its luster. One item every Customer will like is the a comprehensive and a generous 10-year Residential Limited Warranty so that one can enjoy its beauty and function with an added peace of mind. CaesarStones quartz surfaces are nontoxic, and in accordance with international NSF 51 safety standards. The nonporous quality of the quartz surface prevents the growth of surface mold and microbes, even while its low-maintenance nature require less detergent use. This combination allows the CaesarStone quartz surfaces easily meet the stringent sanitation requirements of restaurants, hospitals and schools. Look and Feel: The quartz surface retains the cool, tactile qualities of natural stone. Aggregates range from fine-grained salt and pepper patterns to coarse-grained color blends with a variegated visual texture. Three finishes expand the design possibilities even further: polished, honed (matte) and Viento (textured). The standard slab dimensions are 120inches by 56.6inches, enabling great design flexibility and maximum utilization of the product. Further there are three thicknesses available: half inch, three quarters inch, and one inch and a quarter which will further help to accommodate a multitude of applications. To Find Out More information about CaesarStone's quartz surface products, please visit our Retail Location in Hawthorne, Westchester NY. 2007-08-29T16:36:00-05:00 http://www.finaltouchinteriors.com/emotor/index.php/site/there_are_always_ways_to_decorate_your_bathroom/ http://www.finaltouchinteriors.com/emotor/index.php/site/there_are_always_ways_to_decorate_your_bathroom/#When:01:10:00Z Let's start the week on a smile, for some items there are no words…. Bathrooms have always been tricky to decorate, but this new invention makes accessorizing the toilet seat a no-brainer. A California company created a toilet that's also a fish tank. Don't worry, the fish aren't swimming in the bowl, but in a special container where they are safe and protected from flushing. Who needs magazine?, you can enjoy some live entertainment instead. Alternative content Decorating Ideas 2007-06-25T01:10:00-05:00 http://www.finaltouchinteriors.com/emotor/index.php/site/led_light_emitting_design_alternative/ http://www.finaltouchinteriors.com/emotor/index.php/site/led_light_emitting_design_alternative/#When:00:45:01Z Lighting Design is one of my favorites in the Interior Design Discipline. But I find not to many people pay enough attention to a well planned or thought out Lighting Design in their Home, Office, Dining Room, Kitchen or Bedroom, even though we spend most of our day in these rooms with the Light on. To get to the point, I found just a couple of days ago a very interesting News Article about the opening of the new Deutsche Handelskammer in Hamburg the so called "House in House". Here a very nice Slide Show by Nimbus about Lighting Design with smdLED. House in House Hamburg-Germany The "House in a House" is one of the first buildings worldwide to be lit exclusively with energy-saving smd LEDs by Nimbus. More than 160,000 of these LEDs over all the five levels were required. 400 LEDs are in each of the 380 light-module panels suspended from the glass ceiling on each floor. Due to the uniqueness of this lighting and its interaction with the translucent, transparent and reflecting material, the building acquires an almost "immaterial" appearance. Depending on requirements, LED modules bathe individual areas in bright light for working or they illuminate individual zones only weakly so that, for example, people can see where they are going. The lighting for the building is absolutely energy efficient because it is possible to request only the level of light intensity that is actually needed. Dynamic light sequences which can be triggered when necessary provide an additional effect. When the touchscreen is touched, the LED modules emit calming waves of light which move across the ceiling and are hardly noticeable. The dynamic light control system even conjures up natural scenes in the building: light clouds which slowly drift by above the heads of visitors. A very informative Flash Movie about the smdLED Technology close SLIDESHOW LED Technology by Nimbus/Germany- Because I Love Green Technology. Lighting Design with smdLED Admittedly, the technology behind light emitting diodes - known as LEDs for short - dates back to 1962. But only 44 years later, it came that the latest generation of ultra-flat smdLED semi-conductor diodes revolutionized our understanding of light and lighting. Nimbus smdLED luminaires are a forward-looking alternative to halogen and compact fluorescent lamps. They are flat, cool, economical and safe. Which opens up entirely new dimensions to planners and builders - in design, in lighting concepts and in actual use. The benefits are obvious. The ultraflat smdLED illuminats are perfect for a slim new and previously unimaginable design. These ultra flat luminaires only require extremely low installation depths and minimum fitted heights. The Lighting Designer therefore has the advantage of completely new installation possibilities and uses. Further they are cool. Just light no heat. I personally call it where the Form follows light: Ultra-flat One other advantage one has to deal only Just light - No heat. The new nimbus smd-LED luminaires can safely be touched even after they have been in use for many hours. A patented, ultra-thin cooling plate in a special alloy cools the SMD-LED luminant. One other great Advantage: no risk to children, no source of fire. This opens up situations where one could could not use or install normal Lights. The nimbus smd-LED luminaires operate for up to 50,000 hours, so they are extremely long-lasting and highly robust. Not even frequent switching on and off or vibrations will affect the luminant in any way. They provide the full light intensity as soon as they are switched on. The risk of them failing is put at 3 to 1 million. And because they are so highly efficient, they use up to 90 percent less electricity. Less is more this is a another favorite theme of mine. The nimbus SMD-LED luminaires work without dangerous electricity and harmful UV light. They operate with safety-low voltage (24 V). The highly compact converter may be positioned almost any distance from the luminaire: anywhere, even in a wall or ceiling junction box. And the non-UV light protects sensitive and valuable exhibits. There is much more, but one would have to create a complete Website like the Nimbus Lighting Design Web Site Lighting 2007-06-09T00:45:01-05:00