11/26/19 House & Home

Tips and technology for a healthier, more livable home (BPT) – Today’s home builders, designers and innovators are working to create interiors and living experiences that take into account consumer trends toward seeking a more healthful environment, inside and out. This year’s “Whole Home Concept House,” by leading design magazine House Beautiful, places focus on design elements and appliances created to promote health, livability and sustainability, reflecting the increasing desire of American consumers for an approach to interior design that goes well beyond aesthetics.

“At House Beautiful we believe our homes should be a refuge that helps you recharge and unplug from our busy external lives - and that if you design it well, you will live a happier and healthier life,” said House Beautiful’s market director Carisha Swanson. “The Whole Home Concept House is the culmination of our year-long wellness initiative. We’ve built out a real home that embodies and showcases ideas and innovations that feed happiness and drive well-being in every facet of our lives.”

Here are some of the 2019 Whole Home Concept House’s top features that consumers can adopt in their own home designs and renovations to improve livability and enhance their home environment.

don’t want to spend every moment cleaning. For the Whole Home Concept House, Atlanta-based designer Vern Yip used heavy-duty, stain-resistant fabrics in the foyer and living room, along with wipe-able wallpaper that’s easy to keep clean.

Swanson emphasizes that this approach gives families more time to do the things that they really want to do in life.

2. Fight allergens where they live.

The latest technology for the laundry room now keeps clothes and linens as free from allergens as possible. Choose appliances certified by the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America for the best results, such as LG’s TurboWash 360 front-loading washing machine. The washer’s proprietary Allergiene cycle removes 95 percent of pet dander and dust mites. All LG products in the home are equipped with smart technology, enabling users to control key features from anywhere with the ThinQ mobile app or using voice commands via Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant.

4. Keep food fresh longer.

Kitchen Suite 48-inch Dual-Fuel Pro Range provides home chefs with all the To store and pretools available to profespare healthy, fresh food sionals, such as the firsteffectively, the Whole of-its-kind pro-range with Home Concept House 3. Avoid chemicals. featured the latest in food built-in sous vide modality, along with induction and For refreshing clothes storage and preservation and removing light wringas, all on the cooktop. technology from luxury kles in under 20 minutes, kitchen appliance brand The sous vide cooking the LG Styler steam closet Signature Kitchen Suite. technique uses precise helps extend the life of Their integrated refrigtemperature control to clothing between launder- erators and freezers are deliver consistent, restauing. There is no plumbing engineered to provide the rant-quality results that required, so the unit can largest capacities in their preserve the true flavors, be used in any room. It vitamins and nutrients of 1. Make it easy to reduces the need for dry respective classes, while also minimizing tempera- the food, needing little or clean. cleaning, cutting down on ture fluctuations to help no added salt or fats.

Especially for homes potentially harmful chem- maintain optimal food To learn more about with children, choosing icals in your wardrobe, freshness longer, reducing the 2019 Whole Home fabrics and other materials as well as removes 99% food waste.

Concept House, visit that are tough enough of allergens and bacteria to withstand dirt and from clothing, pillows and 5. Cook like a chef. Housebeautiful.com/ wholehome or see the stains for flooring, walls For cooking your even children’s stuffed and furniture makes it healthiest, most delicious November issue of House animals with the gentle easier for parents who Beautiful. meals, the Signature power of steam.

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Easy steps to plan for an emergency (BPT) – Fires can occur when you least expect it, leaving little time to plan your escape, so the time to prepare for an emergency isn’t when your alarm sounds. According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), only 32% of American households have actually developed and practiced an emergency escape plan. Make time to sit down with your family to plan and practice what you would do in case of a fire or carbon monoxide (CO) emergency. Consider the following tips when helping to prepare yourself and your loved ones: Map it out. Begin thinking about a home fire escape plan by first drawing a map of your home, making sure to label each window and door. Identify two ways out of each room and walk through your home to make sure the doors and windows you’ve chosen as exits open easily.

If your family’s home has a second floor, consider having escape ladders in each room. You can find templates online to help you get started.

Choose a meeting spot. After you have mapped out all of the ways you can exit, pick an outside meeting spot a safe distance away from your home, such as across the street, at a mailbox or

strikes at night. Studies have shown children may have an easier time waking up to the sound of a human voice rather than an alarm.

“Smoke alarms are designed to give early warning in case of fire, and making sure your home has properly installed and maintained alarms is the best defense against one,” said Tarsila Wey, director of marketing for First Alert. “As far as CO is concerned, the only way to detect this fatal gas is with a CO alarm, so have one installed on each level of the home and near every sleeping area.”

Plan. Practice. Repeat.

Once your escape plan is finalized, your job is not done. Gather your family together and put your plan in action. Practice this plan at least twice a year, so if disaster strikes, your family will feel confident in their ability to exit the home safely. To make the drills as realistic as possible, conduct them both during the day and at night.

“Planning ahead can save a life,” added Wey. “Talk with your family to make a plan that fits all of your needs.”

For more information about escape planning and fire safety tools, visit www.firstalert.com.

in front of the neighbor’s home. Be sure that your family knows that once they are outside, they need to call 911 and stay outside. Additionally, explain it is important that everyone knows never to re-enter the home for any reason and to let a firefighter know if someone is missing.

Help your loved ones.

Assign someone in your family who can assist infants, seniors or pets during a fire. The responsible person should be in good health and be able to provide the assistance needed.

Check your smoke alarms. Having working smoke alarms on each level of the home and in every sleeping area is key to having a safe home.

Check that you have alarms properly installed throughout your home and remember to test all of the alarms regularly and replace them at least every 10 years. If you have children, consider installing a First Alert Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarm with voice and location technology throughout your home, and especially in their bedroom. This alarm will notify your child of an emergency, distinguishing between a fire or carbon monoxide incident, in a human voice as opposed to a regular alarm. This is especially helpful if a fire

5 Easy Projects to Protect Your Home This Winter (BPT) – The winter months are here! While you may be preparing to celebrate the holidays and spend time with loved ones, it’s also important to ensure your home is protected from the cold weather.

There are several ways to lower your heating bill and protect your home this winter. Below are five easy projects for first-time home buyers that make a big impact.

1. Change air filters

utility costs, according to EnergyStar. This thermostat works by automatically raising or lowering the temperature in your home to keep it consistent, which saves fuel. For example, you can program most thermostats on a mobile app to keep your home at a lower temperature while you’re away during the day, and warm back up again at night.

changing an old air filter can reduce energy costs by permitting air to flow more easily through the HVAC system, according to the Department of Energy. Fresh air filters are also important for the long-term health of your HVAC system. Keeping this system clean can prevent costly repairs and it creates healthier air quality for your family.

This project benefits your wallet both now and later down the road.

pulling away from your 3. Inspect doors and check for gaps. Fill any gaps you find with simple house. windows caulk work and replace Keep pesky drafts at 5. Seal and protect any worn doorstops to a minimum this season. your water sources help prevent unwanted

2. Upgrade your Easiest to do, easiest to forget. A clean air thermostat filter provides healthy air A smart programmaquality and savings on ble thermostat can save your energy bill. Regularly you up to $180 a year on

Set aside time to look at all the windows and doors in your home and Residential & Commercial

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