Window to Balcony in one move

Bloomframe is an innovative window frame which can be transformed into a balcony - perfect for your house renovation. Opening the bloomframe window offers the possibility to step outside and enjoy the outdoor space. With one simple movement, light, air and space are added to the interior. The dynamic balcony offers a perfect home renovation solution for compact apartments in dense urban areas. The bloomframe balcony can be installed in new and existing buildings.

Hofman Dujardin Architects from Amsterdam designed and patented the innovative balcony. Hurk geveltechniek from Veldhoven is responsible for the developement, the production and the sales of the Bloomframe balcony.
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Gadgets

Art or Radiators?

Using the surface of a radiators/">radiator as a canvas for a painting is the latest concept from Cinier, the French radiators/">radiator manufacturers and Radiating Style. Cinier has collaborated with artists including Johanne Cinier and Patrice Palacio to produce a series of radiators for which movement is the common theme. Costing around £6,416, these won’t be found in everyones home and there is the pointthat not everyone will like the art itself. Still, very innovative.
These can be found at www.radiatingstyle.co.uk

Asides Gadgets heating

Heat sensitive tap from Blanco

A heat sensitive light on the BLANCO OVAL reflects through the water, changing its colour from hot red to cool blue as it flows – a talking point in the kitchen, offering a visual safety check on the temperature of the water. It costs around £975.
See it at www.blanco.co.uk

Asides Gadgets Kitchen

Gadgets - Future proofing our house

One of the questions I’ll need to answer is the cabling of the house. I’m a believer that you should plan as far ahead as possible but not take too much of a technological leap so as to make all your existing gizmos behind.

So it’s a difficult decision. It’s obvious that the way we will store and use our music, videos and communications will change from the shelves of dusty cd/dvd cases to a discrete media server tucked away in a cupboard some where. So this will require cabling that will allow high-definition (HD) video to be transferred quickly as well networking the laptops, printers and storage servers. I realise that if I’m to do this correctly, I’m probably going to have to call in an expert. I’ve been told of the Custom Electronic Design and Installation Association which can be found on 01480 213 744 or www.cedia.co.uk.

More investigation into the subject has shown that Cat6 network cabling, even though 25% more expensive is to ‘nerds’ choice over the old Cat5E cabling. This will allow the audio/ video transfer that will be required as mentioned before.

Wireless is also an option, but my wife does worry about the health implications with 2 young children are running around. If she had it all her way, she’d have them wearing tin foil hats all day to protect them from the ‘harmful’ rays. Even though I mock, I can’t help but be concerned that there could be a risk and until it’s proven to be nonsense, I’ll bow to her whims. There’s also the problem that we are going to insulate our renovated house as much as our budget will allow. This will, in turn hinder the idea of having everything wireless as having dropped packets of data when watching our favourite film won’t be acceptable.

Optical fibre products could be an option but until the cost has come down considerably, I won’t be looking to install this.

So with the plans fixed and an idea of what I will like to have, it’s time to get the experts in, if only to help me budget and prioritise for the future.

Future Gadgets planning smart homes technology

Gadgets - iRobot…floor cleaner

I know, this isn’t strictly a renovation gadget, but as I was leant one to test out, I thought an exception could be made.

This little beauty is brilliant. I unpacked it, added some cleaning fluid and warm water and pressed a button -being a bloke no manual was read, but frankly no manual is really needed. It starts in the middle of the room (kitchen) and circles it’s way around the floor. Firstly it vacuums the mess, then scrubs the floor and then dries the floor - all in one go.

I was stunned….and so were the cats. We all just stood there watching this 12inch wide ‘bug’ find it’s way around with tensors, getting under tables and around chair legs. The finish was fantastic too with the added bonus that it is always putting down clean water and sucking up the dirty.

At £300 it’s a little steep but I would go out buy one tomorrow if I had the funds. The only draw back was that I had to give it back and now the humble mop just doesn’t cut the mustard.

For more information go to http://www.irobot.com/sp.cfm?pageid=95. I used the scooba to do the testing.

Scores on the doors? 8.5/10

Gadgets Kitchen

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