IceStone - Beautiful Eco-Friendly Countertops

If you are among the growing number of consumers who hope to leave a smaller environmental imprint on the earth – but still want a beautiful home – consider a product called IceStone for your countertops.

Source

IceStone is a unique surface made from up to 75 percent recycled glass (or even seashells) and cement that creates a reflective surface while showing off flecks of the polished glass. It offers many of the same qualities of granite and quartz in 29 colors, from neutral to bold, at about the same price. You have a wide range of styles, suitable for the beach house or a Greenwich Village condo, and whatever variation you choose won’t affect the price because every type of IceStone costs the same.

IceStone proclaims itself as one of most environmentally and socially “sustainable” countertop products on the market. That’s one of the reasons I like it. The company was founded in 2003 and produces all of its product in a warehouse in the Brooklyn Navy Yards. It is committed to hiring workers from the diverse local neighborhoods with starting pay for new employees that is 35 percent above the local living wage. Employees own 10 percent of the company and are guaranteed 5 percent of the profits. Its countertops are often used in “green” buildings and they are made without petrochemicals or resins. IceStone says it has prevented 13 million pounds of glass from entering the waste stream, and all the glass it uses is recycled – how awesome is that?!

The cost of an IceStone installation averages about $150 a foot, so it is a high-end option and not the least expensive environmentally friendly option available, which causes some remodelers to drop it from their list.

Source

Because they contain cement, IceStone countertops must be sealed, usually once a year, just as a marble or 100 percent cement countertop would be. Because not everyone is diligent in their sealing practices, some installers recommend IceStone only for bathrooms, although I love it for bars and laundry rooms, too. Without a proper seal, acids or harsh cleaners will stain the surface, so homeowners who prefer as little maintenance as possible will select quartz, wood or granite instead.

Are you ready to talk about countertops? Contact me at Cassandra@pulosdesign.com.

Feeling Down? Try an Aroma-Candle!

We often hear that all we need to do to relax is to close our eyes and take a deep breath or two. That’s not a bad way to start, but for an easy way to relax all day long, light a candle.

Not just any candle will work, of course – some have too much fragrance and cause headaches. The best choice is one that smells great because it is infused with the right amount of essential oils derived naturally from plants.

The first step toward feeling great is putting yourself in the right frame of mind. Although candles won’t heal physical ailments, they can help lesson some symptoms. A relaxing scent is a quick and efficient way to feeling better physically and emotionally.

I make my candles with the finest essential oils supplied by Plant Guru, which uses only the purest ingredients. Choose one or more of your favorite scents – or experiment to find a new favorite – and create a relaxing, healthy environment that lasts all day.

Aromatherapy has been practiced in various forms since the days of early Egypt, when Cleopatra was known to incorporate essential oils into the fragrances she wore. In Europe, aromatherapy is practiced by licensed physicians. Although scientific studies have found no medical benefits from the application of aromatic oils, many people report improvements in mood when a favorite scent infuses the air.

That is what my candles from Everyday Crafting can do for you. Choose from the list of scents below and put in your order today.

Scents Offered:

• Tea Tree - boosts your immune system
• Lavender - improves sleep and encourages relaxation 
• Peppermint - enhances mood, sharpens focus, combats symptoms of congestion
• Sweet Orange - reduces stress and anxiety 
• Eucalyptus - helps fight migraines and fevers
• Patchouli - to help with fatigue and depression
• Bergamot - alleviates stress, anxiety, and depression
• Cinnamon Bark - to ease stress and help with exhaustion
• Clary Sage - improves mood 
• Lime - encourages energy
• Rosemary - enhances memory, focus, and brain performance
• Pink Grapefruit - uplifting scent to address anxiety
• Spearmint - revitalizes
• Lemon - enhances mood and eases headaches 

Get yours today at www.etsy.com/shop/everydaycrafting! 

E-cooking & E-cleaning are Coming - Say Hello to the Future!

If you were surprised with an Echo and Alexa voice assistant from Amazon over the holidays, you may be experimenting with all the information you can quickly gather from your new robotic secretary. It will play music for you, order groceries, look up homework answers on the Internet, along with many other things!

Amazon Echo

But hold on: You haven’t seen the coolest thing yet.

The first generation of connected kitchen appliances are now available, and they will do just about anything except crack the eggs and uncork a bottle of wine for you.

New ovens, for instance, will allow you to send commands from your phone while you are still at work to cook the roast so it is ready 30 minutes after you walk in the door. (But, of course, you still must prepare the roast and put it in the oven before you leave the house.)

Certain dishwashers and clothes washers will count the number of loads you do and automatically order soap supplies from Amazon when you are running low, thus eliminating the last-minute runs to the grocery store for the essentials you buy only irregularly. Plus, why go to a crowded store when Amazon delivers life necessities right to your door?!

Over the past few years, some refrigerators have helped you update the grocery list but they require you to manually update a database every time you empty a bottle of milk or remove a carrot from the vegetable bin.

That is so yesterday.

Samsung Family Hub Refrigerator

New refrigerators have built-in cameras that you can access on your phone while strolling the grocery aisles. Instead of keeping a running list, just take a peek at your refrigerator’s shelves as you shop and make your buying decisions based on what

you see.

To save on energy costs, some models feature software that determines when demand is highest on the energy grid. It will schedule your refrigerator to defrost and the oven to clean itself only during low-use periods when the power company charges lower rates.

If you are refurbishing an existing kitchen or designing one for a new home, it’s worth checking out the features of these connected appliances to determine whether they fit your needs. Of course, they all cost a few hundred dollars more than equipment that just refrigerates and cooks the old-fashioned way, but, think of the money that could be saved with all the handy features that are offered!

Whatever you choose, though, rest assured that you will continue to have the pleasure of using your own hands to prepare a meal – and drink a glass of wine – for at least a few more years.

I will help you research the appliances that best fit your needs and lifestyle. Contact me at Cassandra@Pulosdesigns.com