Found this very interesting product this afternoon - 100% recycled brick pavers made from shredded tires and plastic bottles - Made by Vast.
Seems like a great alternative to poured concrete or traditional brick. I’ll look into pricing to see what it might cost. One of the most exciting features of this product is that the [...]
Here’s some great work from Minnesota-based Eastvold Custom Woodworks. Some of my readers will be familiar with their fantastic work on Jason Hammond’s project, From the Ground Up.
What I like about Matt Eastvold’s work is not only how good it looks, but also how much effort he puts into using sustainably sourced materials and “alternative” [...]
Some great ideas from the UK
After months and months of looking at wood stoves, I’ve narrowed the field own to four models. And the nominees are…
Clockwise, from top left: Scan Model 60 ($2000); Morso Model 3142 ($1568); Morso 8142 ($3000); Zephyr 2.0 ($1700).
You can read more about these models from my earlier post here. The three deciding factors will be [...]
The ADU is smaller, so the dream of a big bath is gone. However, there are some interesting options that may work in a smaller space. Here’s a few options:
SoftTubs (used inside or outside, a bit of a bath/jacuzzi hybrid. Requires only 110v)
Asian Soaking Tubs (smaller, but deeper. Link is to a discussion)
European baths [...]
Here’s a beautiful use for recycled glass:
It’s a product made from cement and a mixture of recycled crushed glass. Locally it’s available through Pratt and Larson . Neat option for counter tops!
Pratt and Larson
1201 SE 3rd Ave.
Portland, Oregon 97214
503-231-9464
Here’s a great line of European woodstoves: RAIS
It looks like it’s available through local dealer Ecohause. According to the website, their stoves are so efficient that they are “carbon neutral” - meaning that burning the wood releases the same amount of CO2 as would be released by the tree as it decomposes. They’re highly efficeint [...]
A list of possible builders. I don’t think any of them have websites (surprise, surprise):
Referred by Chuck Banta of Homes123:
Banta Construction
Terry Banta
(503) 353-8245
Ostercraft Inc.
Gary Osterholm
(503) 772-0022
Fish Construction NW, Inc.
Justin Wood
(503) 292-9891
Referred by my client, Chuck Eichacker
Seth McCoy
Mighty Acorn LLC
CCB# 173367
(503) 351-2449
Referred by my friend Eli Spevak
ADU Building Company (referred by Eli’s colleague Bob Schroeder)
CCB# 118768
16055 [...]
Hot tubs seem like a great idea, but just about everyone I know who has a hot tub hardly ever uses it. Seems like a pretty big waste of electricity, not to mention all the chemicals and maintenance. So, this got me to thinking: what about an oversized bathtub? No chlorine, and no wasted electricity. [...]
Saw an interesting concept from LG today - a stackable dryer that allows you to reposition the controls at the bottom of the dryer so that it’s more ergonomic when stacked. Pretty cool. I’ll post a photo when I find one.
The other thought I had about stackable washers is the issue of flooding (especially on [...]