Is Your TV too Big for Your Room?

Most people do a lot of research before they buy a new TV. They read various magazines, search the Internet and view various models in person for picture quality. Unfortunately many people only measure the length of the available wall and give little consideration to the seating distance.

The old rules stated the proper seating distance was 7 to 9 times the picture height from a 480p TV. This was so you were close enough to see the scan lines. When newer (720p) TVs came out the had pixels instead of scan lines. For the most part the same rules were applied; except that you can sit closer since the resolution is better.

The new debate is now about HD or 1080p TVs. Some experts say with a TV playing a perfect source (BluRay) a person can sit as close as 3 times the display height. I’ve seen another report that says you can sit as close as 1.5 times the diagonal with a perfect source. That seems really close to me but I can understand a gamer using this calculation. (Math: Screen Diagonal x 0.49 = Screen Height)

At 5 times the picture height, the screen may appear a little smaller than you like, but your eyes won’t be able to pick up as much noise on the screen. Unless you are sitting closer than 9.8 feet to the new 50″ TV you’ve had your eyes on, the difference between 720p and 1080p won’t be apparent. Most people sit about 10 feet from the TV.
To figure out what size is best for your room, divide the seating distance by 5. This will give you the desired screen height. Divide the screen height by .49 will give you the screen diagonal. If you want a larger screen than your viewing distance is capable of, then you need to increase your resolution. A 65″ TV for 10 feet needs to be 1080p to compensate for the closer distance.Here’s a chart from CNET that requires no math. It’s calculations are for HDTV.

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September 29, 2007

Old World Style Kitchens

Old World Design Inspiration | KitchAnn Style

If your taste in decor is more Old World than Contemporary but you find hunting down antiques can be a bit tiring then look no further. Habersham Home’s custom cabinetry in rich finishes and hand-painted lacquers combine to bring you seamless livable looks with modern conveniences such as concealed built-in refrigerators.

Habersham likes to refer to their kitchen furniture as having “Grand European Casual Styling.”

September 23, 2007

Universal Toilet

Have you ever looked at something and wondered why it took so long for someone to create it? That’s how I feel about this universal toilet. It is more elegant in design and more functional than any product currently on the market.

The designers, Changduk Kim and Youngki Hong of Korea, designed this toilet to address the emotional components of being disabled. Their view is that by creating a toilet that is equally useable by everyone, there is no longer a need for special signage or for disabled people to feel singled out by dedicated facilities.

Wheelchair users don’t need to turn or twist but can simply slide forward off the wheelchair directly onto the toilet. There is a chest board they can lean against for added stability and comfort. Handles on the chest board can also be helpful when standing or transferring to and from the wheelchair. For people that have limited dexterity or strength and the able-bodied, the chest board becomes a backboard to lean against.

The toilet is wrapped in steel to prevent damage to the toilet’s finish from possible wheelchair contact. Surfaces on the toilet that come in contact with the human body are treated with a special coating to mitigate coldness.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pLQjThaINi8]

September 17, 2007

Bamboo Veneer Cabinets

I am very pleased to announce my favorate cabinet manufacturer, Miralis, is now offering bamboo as part of their Exotic Veneer Series adding 2 more choices to an impressive offering of African Mahogany, Anigre, English Sycamore, and Zebra wood to name a few.

Bamboo is one of the world’s most prolific and fastest-growing plants and is able to reach maturity in about four years, compared to the typical 25 to 70 years for commercial tree species in the U.S. There are over 1000 documented uses of bamboo.

Bamboo is nature’s most sustainable resource, it is grown without pesticides or chemicals, it is 100% biodegradable, and naturally regenerative. Bamboo is actually a tropical grass, with an extensive root system that sends out an average of four to six new shoots per year, naturally replenishing itself and growing to heights of 60 feet or more. Some bamboo species grow up to 4 feet per day and can be harvested every 3 to 4 years.