Better Living

More than a shelf and a rod ...

Whether it's cliche to say or not, it's true the state of your home reflects your state of mind. If you walked into your closet right now, what would it say about you?

Make it say 'creative' and 'with-it' with some of the newer trends in closet organization. Here are a few we're loving at Better Living these days: new real wood veneer cabinets (shown in Chocolate Pear finish),  drawers and shoe cubbies for adjustable closet shelving systems, and revolving shoe trees. Enjoy! And as always, check out our site www.betterlivingonline.com for more ideas and details about these products.

One decision or 1,000: one easy step that'll keep stress in check

   If it's not one thing, it's another. The decisions you have to make during the building/remodeling process are sure to keep you on your toes. Many a customer has walked into our store for the first time with wide eyes. The initial "WOW!" morphs into "Whoa, this is overwhelming." Long ago, we decided that one of our most pressing challenges was to make the process as easy and pleasant as possible for our customers so they would keep coming back. Here's what we figured out:

    The best way to go about picking out the lights (or closets, hardware, etc.) is to choose your showpiece first. For instance, we always tell our customers to choose their entry or dining light first (whichever of the two they care most about). EVERY light has coordinating pieces nowadays. Once you've done that, your job is practically done!

    We've put so many great home packages together here at Better Living, once the customer has chosen their favorite item or color, we know what to suggest from there. The customer is always thankful for that!

  Here's an example for you. A young woman came in this afternoon and fell in love with this fixture:

   

About 10 minutes later, she and I had basically picked out her whole house. The package looks something like this:

Add in some coordinating pieces and sprinkle in a few budget-friendly fans and door levers that have a similar rustic look, and we've got a pretty handsome-looking house package! Again, the key is to find one piece you love, and your lighting professional can help you put together the package even your budget will love!
To look at more lighting families, take a look at our web site, Better Living Online.
From there, click on "In-Stock Lighting" for true inspiration! 

The most versatile lighting around...

• What are the Advantages of Track Lighting?  

  In a word "Versatility". Since power is transferred throughout the track there are few   restictions on lighting placement. Light heads are easily added, moved, replaced, or   removed to meet changing lighting needs.  

  Where can Track Lighting be used?  

  Virtually anywhere. The wide variety of head styles available can compliment   any room setting.  

  What are the advantages of Low Voltage Lighting?  

  Low voltage Halogen lights have many advantages. They can provide up to 66% savings in energy cost.   A 50 watt halogen lamp can replace a 150 watt flood lamp with cooler operating temperature while providing   whiter, truer light. It is also possible to create much smaller fixture heads which can   increase design possibilities.  

  Where do I position the track and how many Fixtures do I need?  

  This would depend on the effect you wish to create. Here are some rule-of-thumb guidelines for several of   the most popular uses for track lighting.  

  • Accent Lighting: Position track 60% of the distance from the wall relative to the distance from the center   of the object from the ceiling. Us a minimum of 1 fixture with narrow beam spread directed at the object.  
  • Task Lighting:Place track wherever it is needed. Choose lamp with correct beam spread to illuminate the desired area.  
  • Wall Washing: For ceilings up to 9' place the track 2'to 3'from the wall. For ceilings up to 12' place track between   3' to 4' from the wall. Space fixtures the same distance that the track is from the wall.  
  • Wall Grazing: Mount track 6" to 12" from wall. space fixture heads the same distance as the track is from   the wall.

   

        For more information on track lighting and to see a few of the best products available, go to Better Living Online where you will find a few of our products and links to more information!

Size up your lighting right - dining room

To select lighting for your home, you must first consider the room you're trying to illuminate. In a living or family room for example, you'll want to include general lighting for entertaining and watching television, task lighting for reading, and accent lighting to highlight artwork, plants, and other items of interest. In the kitchen, you'll require task lighting for cooking and other chores, and also general lighting for gathering with family and friends. In the bedroom, you'll want to create an overall atmosphere of quiet relaxation, while providing some task lighting for reading and other activities. Similarly, in the bathroom, you'll require task and general lighting.

CHANDELIERS:

Chandeliers add sparkle and style to your dining room or foyer and provide general lighting needed for dining and entertaining. While chandeliers are traditionally hung in a dining room or foyer, a new trend is to hang chandeliers in other rooms such as the bedroom, living room and larger bathrooms. Mini-chandeliers are particularly great for adding drama when used in unexpected places like a powder room, hallway, or walk-in closet.

SIZING A CHANDELIER

To size a chandelier for your dining room or bedroom, you’ll need to measure the length and width of the room and add those fi gures together. The sum, converted to inches, will equal the diameter of the correct size chandelier (How to Size a Foyer Fixture p.359). In the dining room, if this measurement seems inappropriate due to the size of your table, size your chandelier three quarters the width of the table. The bottom of the chandelier should be approximately 30-32 inches above the table top.

Don't forget to clean up

With hundreds of decisions made during home building, cleaning and maintence are not normal priorities.  Installing a central vacuum system can help keep a home clean and healthy.  Allergies are common in most families.  Recently, a university study revealed Beam central vacuums significantly decreased most common allergy symptoms.  These powerful systems completely remove dust and dirt from living areas.

Central Vacuum systems range from $1,500 to $2,300 installed.  A lack of awareness of benefits and cost are the primary reasons homeowners don't install the cleaning system.  If you're building, central vacuum systems are worth consideration.  Beam Central Vacuums