Kitchen of the Future

At the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) there is a group of researchers and developers who come up with new and advanced ideas for the kitchen. A BBC News Online article discusses three of these advances.
The first is a sensor that can be applied to a plastic food storage container. The sensor determines what kind of food is inside of the container, assesses the temperature, and counts down how much longer until the food spoils.


Another gadget being developed is a "chameleon mug" that tells you when the liquid inside is hot. The mug could also be equipped with sensors that could alert you when you've added too much sugar or rotten milk.


Of all the kitchen contraptions discussed in the article, the one I found the most interesting was the "dishmaker". The dishmaker begins as a plastic wafer and can inflate itself (using different amounts of air pressure) into the shape of a cup, bowl, or whatever dish you need. According to the article, the dishmaker "automatically recycles your dishes and stores them very compactly as thin disks."

Read more about developing kitchen technology.

Historic Bathroom and Kitchen - The Narbonne House

The Narbonne House is an important part of historical Salem, Massachusetts and was considered a normal middle-class home of the 17th and 18th centuries. Though a portion of the house was built in 1675 by Thomas Ives, the house wasn't occupied by a Narbonne family member until 1823.

Below is a photo of the kitchen which "combines a modified 17th century fireplace and oven with late 19th and 20th century paneling and sink."

The photo below shows the tiny second floor bathroom with a toilet from the 1900's.


Source: Salem Maritime National Historic Site

Kitchen Trends

As before, I have compiled a list of trends I have observed in various, current home renovation books and magazines. More specifically, kitchen trends and popular fixtures.

• Bridge Style Kitchen Faucet
• Easy to use, Single Handle Kitchen Faucets
• Convenient Pot Fillers

• Oven Backsplashes
• Water Saving Fixtures
• Decorative Tile Murals

View photos and learn more about each fixture by clicking on it above.

Classic Bathroom Trends

I was recently reading an article called Kitchen and Bath: A Longing for the Past which was featured in This Old House. The author of the article stated that homeowners who are remodeling their kitchens and bathrooms are "choosing traditional and classic styles over the trendy or unproven". Also discussed in the article were some older trends that are being made new. Below are some products with similar characteristics of those listed in the article.

Cast Iron Bathtub


Handcrafted Copper Sink


Semi-Vessel Vanity Sink


Vintage Inspired Hot Water Dispenser

Read Kitchen and Bath: A Longing for the Past at This Old House

Get "Greener" with Paint, not color

Looking to make your house greener without painting it green?

Our customers are asking for ways to “Go Green” in the bathroom and kitchen without looking too modern. I've found a variety of tips to benefit the serious renovators as well as the quick-fixers, from easily implemented and inexpensive energy savers to kitchen altering renovations. Best part, saving energy saves money too. Go green to save green.

The first of my many tips found deals with paint, because, no matter what kind of remodel, renovation or simple update you're doing, it’s inevitable you'll be repainting and resealing walls and floors.

How can adding more chemicals to your walls improve the environment? Even after regular paint is dry, it can off-gas for up to 3.5 years. The volatile organic compounds (VOCs) found in most paints are a major source of indoor air pollution. Look for the Green Seal on paint products to ensure only the lowest VOC paints are used in your home. Low VOC paint uses a water base instead of petroleum-based oil solvents.

AFM Safecoat's is a leader in the green-building industry. They offer a full line of paints in every finish; Matte, Eggshell, All Purpose Exterior Satin, Cabinet & Trim Enamel, and Semi-gloss. Just like regular paint, these are all tintable to virtually any color.

Stains and Seals- OSMO and Velvit Oil stains are good for both wood and concrete, starting as low as $25 a gallon

Not planning on repainting? Stop the off-gas from the current paint with Finishes & Off-Gas Stoppers.

Going "Green" looks better than you think. You'll be surprised of the many other ways to be eco-friendly during your upcoming and even already started projects.