A dreamy kitchen in Arbor Homes' Chateau Marseille. Interiors designed by Sandy Van Dorn. DREAM AWAY:
Dark wood floors, free-standing bathtubs, glamorous lighting and full-scale outdoor kitchens are some of the trends to note at this year's
. All five of the homes are certified Earth Advantage, with one showing off the first
to be installed in Oregon. The freewatt system is fueled by natural gas and creates electricity while it heats the home at the same time. It recycles heat from the gas generator to the heating system so the fuel is used twice. Tune back in tomorrow for a gallery of photos to whet your appetite for the show that opens its gates Saturday, Aug. 6 and runs until Aug. 28.
TALK ABOUT INNOVATION:
If you've ever held your garage door opener and wished that it could do more than just open your door,
newest innovation now gives you the power to wirelessly control your entire house.
According to Skylink Group, their remote keypad, the Skylink Pad, is easy to install and use.
The Skylink Pad allows you to control many of your homes' aspects with the push of a button. The pad, which comes in a variety of different models, includes six different options, from one to 14 button keypad choices.
The six different pads are available with 1, 2, 3, 7, 10 and 14 button configurations and can work together on the same system so everyone in the family can use their own.
The credit card sized SkylinkPad can also be used for more than one location, allowing you to control your home, vacation home, parents' home, office, warehouse, business locations and much more.
The system uses wireless receivers plugged into wall outlets or lamp sockets as well as control modules which can be wired out of sight.
The Wireless Control System can be used to control anything electronic, including: lamps, coffee makers, fans, stereos, fire places, ceiling fans, indoor and outdoor lighting, garage doors, security systems and countless other electronic devices and appliances.
"The other benefit of the system is how it can help lower your electricity bill. With the touch of a button, you can shut off all of your lights or set up motion sensors to work with the system. This allows you to turn on your lights only when you need them and save energy in the process," said Philip Tsui, CEO.
The Wireless Control System also works with timers to ensure that lights are off at a specific time. Dimmers are also compatible and can reduce energy usage by up to 40 percent.
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