How to have your home be more Sustainable

envforum logoSustainability is a big buzzword these days, but what exactly does it mean? Sustainability means meeting your current needs without having a negative impact on the needs of future generations. It also requires you to make environmentally-conscious choices about the way you live. It’s not really plausible for most of us to have a completely sustainable home — one that uses only nature’s infinite resources with no affect on the environment around us. But fortunately, there are some measures you can take to make your home more sustainable.

Your choices as a consumer greatly affect the sustainability of your home. Using rechargeable batteries limits the waste of items that often can’t be recycled. Buying paper products made with recycled content continues the chain of sustainability. Better yet, lose the paper towels and use a washable cloth. Biodegradable trash bags and cups are made of corn that dissolves over time, adding one less type of plastic to our landfills. And energy/water saver appliances can all help contribute to a more sustainable way of living.

In this particular blog we are going to highlight a particular brand that we at Plumbtile are proud to provide; California Faucets takes water sustainability very seriously! Read more below.

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Designer Spotlight : Hansgrohe

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Do you often find yourself worrying about the stress of your day while you shower? Do you find yourself listing all of the things that have to be done, and the things that didn’t go as planned as the water falls all around you? Maybe it’s time for a different shower experience. With Hansgrohe, your daily shower can be the most relaxing part of your day.

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How to Install a Dishwasher Air-Gap Kit

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A clog in your kitchen sink drain could cause dirty water to back-flow into the dishwasher and contaminate the inside of the washer tub. Some municipalities require you install an air gap between your dishwasher and garbage disposal or sink drain to avoid such an occurrence. You can install an air gap in a single afternoon without the help of a plumber. Dishwasher air gap kits are available with everything needed for the air gap, but not the additional hose required to attach the gap to either the sink drain or the disposal.

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How To Install a Center Faucet

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One of the most common types of bath faucets is a center-set faucet. These are available in a wide selection styles and prices, and are generally easy to install. The steps below describe how to properly install most common center-set bath faucets.
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How to Update Your Kitchen With the Newest Trends

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Looking to update your kitchen with improvements that will make your friends and family gasp in astonishment? The latest kitchen trends will put you on the fast track to exactly that reaction.  Continue reading →

How To: Install your own bathroom faucet – no plumber needed

Finding the perfect new bathroom fixtures are only half the battle, the next step is getting your old hardware out and installing the new hardware to complete your updated look. While the task may seem daunting, this step by step guide will walk you through from beginning to end, and help you get the new polished look you want in your bathroom.

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Step 1:

Pick your faucet. If your sink already has a single stem faucet might be wise to stick with that style, and same for three stem systems. That way we avoid having to drill any holes in porcelain. Continue reading →

The National Kitchen & Bath Association's Trend Study

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Looking to find out what’s hot and what’s not in the world of kitchen and bathroom design? If you are still in the planning stages of your remodel, you might want to check the latest National Kitchen & Bath Association’s trend study: 300 member designers were polled for the latest trends and news about bath and kitchen designs and remodels and below are the results.

Curious to see what’s HOT this season?

GRAY COLOR SCHEMES – that’s right, shades of gray are growing in appeal for both the kitchen and bathroom, and been growing in popularity since 2010.

“Among the overall trends identified for this year, gray color schemes in both kitchens and baths have witnessed a dramatic escalation since 2010, particularly over the past year, according to a written statement about the study. “Used currently in 55 percent of kitchens and 56 percent of bathrooms, shades of gray are growing in appeal, creating chic, sophisticated spaces that many consumers desire.”

The appetite for sleek shades of gray in kitchens and baths might be linked to the colors popularity in fashion over the last few years. NKBA stopped short of linking the color’s popularity to the steamy best-seller “Fifty Shades of Grey” by E.L. James.

Despite gray’s recent appeal, white and off-white are still most popular, used in 73 percent of kitchens and 71 percent bathrooms. The neutrals of beige and bone come next in popularity, followed by grays and browns, according to NKBA.
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QUARTZ – second most popular counter-surface material used in kitchens and baths last year, and is closely gaining popularity to granite on the top spot.

WHITE CABINETS – this is a popular trend for kitchens, it has been a top choice since last year.

GLASS BACKSPLASH – this trend has grown in popularity in the last 3 years, it’s no surprise.

TOUCH-ACTIVATED FAUCETS – at Plumbtile you will find many of these trendy faucets, we love them!

For the complete trends for the bath and kitchen, you can view the full list here. Call 1-866-369-8180 and ask your friendly Plumbtile consultant about the latest trends, they’re always ready to help!

The Top 4 Things You Missed at Dwell On Design

So for those of you who missed it last weekend, the Dwell on Design show was amazing. It’s the West Coast’s biggest design event, was at the LA Convention Center and is put on by Dwell magazine (check out their twitter here). The top names in interior decoration, kitchen fixtures, bathroom tile, modern furniture and advanced appliances were present to help turn the houses of today into the homes of the future. Continue reading →