Gardens
Hydroponic kits an answer to soil, space, time woes
If you’re one of those folks lacking a green thumb, space and time for a garden, a researcher and a teacher on the Big Island have an answer for you. It’s the best hydroponic system with everything needed to grow plants without dirt. “You can get yourself a nice little hobby and something you can eat,” said the inventor, horticulturist...
Gardens
Successful gardening tips
CONSERVATION: April is usually the beginning of our drought period. Conserve water by using mulches around plants and in annual or vegetable beds. Weeds use a lot of water, so pull or hoe them out. This is also a good time to consider putting in a drip irrigation system. Studies prove that less water is used with drip irrigation, and less is lost to...
Houses
How To Find A Restoration Contractor
When disaster strikes, you have one small window of opportunity to repair the damage quickly and correctly. To do otherwise can cost you twice as much in the form of less than sound repairs. The restoration contractor you choose must have the knowledge, skills and integrity to do the job right. Using a qualified contractor becomes even more critical...
Furniture, Houses
Matress facts worth knowing
1. An ideal mattress is one that supports all parts of the body evenly. “Look for a feeling of buoyancy, a cradling sensation,” says the book How to Get a Good Night’s Sleep. 2. You can’t go wrong with any of the brand-name mattresses by makers such as Sealy, Serta and Simmons. 3. People who sleep on their sides should avoid...
Home Improvement, Houses, Style
Laminate is a good choice for flooring
Laminate flooring consists of three components bonded together. Its decorative surface is a high-pressure melamine laminate, which bonds to a moisture-resistant’ wood-based core (usually high-density or medium-density fiberboard). A balancing backer of laminate (generally of the same composition as the top layer) bonds to the underside of the...
Houses, Interiors
How to choose the right carpet for your home
Carpeting can be made of natural or synthetic fibers or blends. Be sure to read the back label on the sample thoroughly before buying. Wool: A staple yarn (strips of fiber spun together) that dyes and cleans well, but is not resistant to static electricity or fading. It also is nonallergenic, which means you won’t sneeze or break out in hives...
Design, Houses, Interiors, Style
Hardwood flooring finishes include water-based treatment
The “green revolution” has hit the home floor industry — and not a minute too soon. “The newest thing out now is a water-based finish that leaves your floor looking velvety,” says Dave Warrenchuk, owner of DMW Hardwood Floor, who works out of his home. “It’s a lot more environmentally friendly than the oil-based...
Houses, Style
Luxury vinyl tiles rival the real thing
Vinyl flooring isn’t exactly what you’d expect to find underfoot at the upscale Harrods Department Store in London, the high-visibility set of NBC’s “Today Show” in Manhattan or the high-traffic main entrance at Hillcrest Medical Center. But Amtico luxury resilient flooring is at home everywhere from a residential...
