Home Sweet Home

Earthmind is the idea for an alternative community taking shape. This nonprofit group is at present composed of three people—Mark Dankoff, Michael Hackleman, and Vanessa Naumann—who, as researchers, writers, and educators, want to share their findings and thoughts with others as concerned as they are with alternative energy.

A visit to the Earthmind temporary headquarters in the Sierra foothills near the gateway to Yosemite Valley, California, is an immediate visual experience. Perched atop what resembles a crooked tower is a 1500-watt Wincharger electric wind generator. The octahedron-module tower is based on the geodesic dome principle, and like the dome, derives its strength from the eight triangles that make up each octahedron module. (more…)

Insufficient lighting is a problem in most basements. You can add more light and get better ventilation by enlarging basement windows or adding new ones. Even with larger windows you will need supplementary lighting, perhaps illuminated ceiling installations. Wiring is not a job for amateurs. Your electrical contractor will tell you if your wiring is adequate and meets building-code specifications or, if not, what should be done. He will also recommend

What to do about moisture control

If your basement is damp, this should be corrected before you start redecorating. First, determine the cause of the dampness. It may be a poorly graded lot, bad tiling, or any one of a number of factors. Whatever the cause, it should be remedied before applying waterproofing material to walls and floors. (more…)

When setting out to remodel an existing bathroom take stock of your needs. What type of bathroom do you need; guest, family, children, compartmented? Then look at the room you presently have. Is there enough light? Are the walls sound, the floors permanent? Do you want to use the window, or would you rather cover it and use the space for closets? Then put your ideas down on paper.

How to make a floor plan

A good floor plan is just as important when remodeling a bathroom as it is when redoing any other room in the house. A detailed plan will indicate if you have enough room to move about and to store bathroom necessities conveniently plus room for the bathing, lavatory, and toilet fixtures which are the basic necessities. (more…)

The list of materials that are suitable for decorating bathroom walls and ceilings is so extensive that it is well to evaluate each one carefully before you make your choice. This is especially true for bathrooms where you have to contend with great amounts of moisture.

Marble, ceramic tile, terrazzo tile, or quarry tile are wall materials reminiscent of the opulent era of the royal bath and belong to the luxury class.

Less expensive materials include mirrored walls, vinyl products that simulate marble or tile, and plastic-finished or laminated hardboards. Reproductions of hardboard paneling are easy to install and are available in realistic wood grains. This type can be cut with a knife and applied with adhesive. Wood paneling is available with a plastic finish. (more…)

How to design a children’s bathroom

Planning a bathroom for children means planning for convenience and safety as well as color. Remodeling will be minor if there is an existing bathroom. Just add a few fixtures, fittings, and storage units that suit ages of the children. However, as the need for a nursery- type bathroom will be brief, the bathroom will eventually be redecorated for use by young adults or as an extra bathroom for a guest room.

If you are choosing new fixtures, select them with future use—adult use—in mind, in colors that go with the overall color scheme of your home and in normal sizes and heights. If more than one child will be using the bathroom, double lavatory sinks are a good investment, not only for the younger years, but for adult family use later on. They enable two youngsters to get ready for school at the same time now, and will add extra use to a compartmented bathroom later on. Choose walls, floors, and fabrics for stain-resistant qualities and their ability to with stand humidity as well as for their decorative effect. (more…)

Designs cut from vinyl-coated wallpaper or fabric used elsewhere in the room can be appliquéd to window shades. To prevent raw edges of material from raveling, spray the back of the fabric with a clear acrylic spray before cutting out design. Use a small sharp scissors for cutting out design motifs and arrange them on the shade in exact position. Apply glue to the reverse side of each cutout, making sure that the entire surface is covered, then press it into position. After adhesive has dried, the face of cutouts is best protected by an extra coating of acrylic spray. (more…)

Ensuring that you have proper lighting is one of the most important aspects of bathroom decorating. Most bathrooms have fairly small windows; many are being installed with no windows at all in order to permit more wallspace for fixtures and storage.

To provide the light you need for makeup, shaving, and general illumination, a combination of fluorescents and incandescents is best. To diffuse light that will set a soft glow throughout, choose frosted bulbs. (more…)

There are countless ways that bead hangings can make that all-important decorating difference in your home. They can create a dramatic division and, at the same time, keep space free-flowing. Although they are revivals of the very ornate period of Victorian styling, today’s adaptations are equally at home in traditional, country, Mediterranean, or contemporary settings. They can be used to curtain a window, disguise a nonview, and at the same time allow light and air to filter through. As a divider, they take almost no space, yet give a feeling of semiprivacy in each of the separated areas.

Along with beauty and versatility, there is another factor in their favor—beads require no dry cleaning, laundering, or pressing; all you need to do is wipe them with a damp cloth to restore them to their original appearance. (more…)