Asko HomePub

Since every party always winds up in the kitchen it makes since to serve the beer from the kitchen.

The Asko HomePub is a combination refrigerator-freezer with a through-the-door beer tap. An extra shelf for storing a 5-litre keg lets you chill your extra keg while you drink the first. Special features include an anti-bacterial system, CO2 cartridge and tap are designed into the door for maximum refrigerator storage, manual temperature controls, quiet (38dbA) operation and auto-defrost.

The unit is currently sold in Europe but plans are in the works to sell Asko Refrigeration Products in America.

October 5, 2007

Round Glass Mosaic Tiles

Glass tiles are very popular in the kitchen and the bathroom; but glass tiles that are round or varied in shape are the hottest trend right now.

These little gems from Interstyle Ceramic & Glass are made from recycled glass and come in a variety of sheet sizes such as 3×12 and 6×6. I love how these modern tiles create a splash of visual texture and give a natural feel to a material that is often considered hard and cold.

Check out some of the fun colors available here.

These next tiles from Stone Source, also shown in green, are called Bubbles Blend MDS. You can choose from 59 colors in either a clear or a satin finish.

Another great characteristic of varied-sized mosaic tile is that they tend to catch the eye more than the typical square mosaic tile that can easily start to blend together and appear as a big field of color.

October 3, 2007

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.

You Might Also Like: Robern TViD

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.”