Home & Garden Blog

I woke up this morning wrapped in my blankets like a torpedo. Or a burrito. Or a “brrr”rito, as my blanket-wrapping was in reaction to the frosted windows and frosty weather outside. Heat distribution in my house is very hard to regulate: while the kitchen and the living room get the brunt of the fire from the central heater, my small bedroom off in the far left corner of the house gets the least amount of love from the central heat supply. The problem is that when we raise the heat, my room becomes comfortable, and my roommates’ rooms turn into microwaves. So how can we make everyone happy?

I recommend space heaters. They work well and are small enough to heat small rooms, foyers, mud rooms, maybe even the space for the dogs and cats (though don’t get it too close to their beds! It could get a bit too hot and cause your pet to dehydrate). Space heaters are affordable and functional. They are a great item to have on hand in the freak occurrence that the heater breaks (god forbid!) or a particularly cold-blooded aunt or grandmother.

Here are some of the top space heaters on the market:

Dayton NW9 1500 Watt Electric Ceramic Convection Space Heater
Features 5,118 BTUs of Heat, Auto Overheat Shut-Off, and Washable Dust Filter - FREE GROUND SHIPPING! from Air-n-Water.com: $49.95

DeLonghi TCH8590ER Ceramic Heater: $61.99

Shop for discount space heaters at Smarter.com.

This glass heating panel from Thermoglance takes us away from traditional metal radiators that are clunky and let’s face it, does not necessarily add to the aesthetic of a room!

Thermoglance radiators can be controlled by a chronothermostat which detects the room temperature and adjusts the heat accordingly. The glass heating panel is so easy to install, the floor or wall-mounted heating panels simply need an electric power socket. Space-saving, stunning and silent, glass heating panels are the way of the future.

See how elegant and unassuming the glass heating panels are in real life situations:

I like it! Nothing wrong with traditional metal radiators, but the way I see it life is all about having options. 

To read more or shop for Thermoglance Glass Panel Heaters, click here. 

As temperatures continue to drop at nightfall, you may want to invest in a patio heater of some sort. Although I live in California it is a great investment, and is often borrowed by friends and family for assorted events and parties. Patio heaters are especially handy during these winter months to keep your guests or yourself toasty. This way you can marvel at the clear starry nights or moonlit garden blooms without freezing your tooshie!

Frontgate - Deluxe Patio Heater

The Frontgate Deluxe Patio Heater is equally at home in your residential backyard as well as in a trendy cafe’ or coffee shop! You can extend the entertaining season well into Spring with an outdoor space heater to warm the winter nights.

Here are the highlights:

• 40,000-BTU heat output keeps a 15′ radius toasty warm
• High-efficiency burner system features a flame-failure device and anti-tilt switch
• Push-button ignition
• Adjustable heat control
• Three-piece slidable aluminum reflector intensifies heat
• Weighty 20″ base rolls easily on wheels
• Patio heater uses a 20-lb. LP tank (not included)
• Price: $395.00

To purchase or shop for the Frontgrate Deluxe Patio Heater, click here.

Lil’ Arctic Sun Patio Heater

This portable gas fueled table top heater is a perfect heat source for your deck, patio, or campsite. Shipping is FREE and it is currently being offered by MoreMailBoxes.com for only $173.99!

Here are the features:

• Available in Beige, Green, Bronze or Pewter
• Constructed with a cast iron base, stainless steel emitter screen shield, and an aluminum reflector dome
• Easy 10 minute assembly
• Tip-over safety switch
• Burner grid radiates heat up to an 8′ diameter
• Push button Piezo electric ignition
• Efficient burner system with 100% safety shut-off
• Up to 11,000 BTUs
• Fueled by a standard propane disposable tank (approximately six hours of burn time)
• 1-year limited warranty
• LP tank not included
• Made in China
• 39.5″ H x 20″ W x 20″ D

To purchase or shop for the Lil’ Arctic Portable Patio Heater, click here.
To shop for more discount patio heaters, click here.

See the impressive home flame collection from Radius design at Furniture Fashion. I particularly enjoy the free floating effect created by the way the fireplace hangs from the wall…

Showers are going GREEN too! Read about H20Kinetic Technology at Landfair Furniture … Delta Faucet Company has reinvented the showering experience — creating a warmer, more luxurious spray that blankets the body, giving the feeling of a high-flow shower with less water…Sound lovely!

Holiday gift giving can stump even the most confident design enthusiast, as it’s one thing to know your own taste, yet another to discern what unexpected gift could put a huge smile on the face of the recipient. Find Fabulous and Fun Holiday gift ideas at Blinkdecor.com…

The green bed from Gervasoni is the ideal bed for people who are concerned about their impact on the environment. The oriental undertones of the green bed are partially due to the distinctive headboard which is made from black bamboo – an excellent sustainable resource. Read more at Trendir.com.

This week in Smarter Home & Garden we covered:

• “Watch Out! Landslides & Falling Cows Ahead!”
• My shag is on fire! Read up on the JCPenney Recall for Fire Hazardous Shags.
• Check out the short homage Todd Oldam gives to George Nakashima. Shows great examples of his work.
• The seasons are warped! When it is cold, it’s really cold. Warm up with a space heater that doubles as an air conditioner for when it suddenly heats up!! Make up your mind Weather Gods!?
• Tis’ the Season to finally be the best decorated Christmas House on the block! Read about great Christmas Decorations and outdoor lighting options.
• Tur-duc-hens?! Turkey-Duck-Chicken for those of you who don’t know, step aside Turkey there is a new tradition in town!

At last it is starting to cool off, well at least at night. We are experiencing the most bizarre weather (California, that is) it is really cold at night and early morning, then it gets really warm and hot in the afternoon!

On the radio this morning, some idiot chimed in that it was all Al Gore’s fault, weirdo! Funny how only when the seasons begin to get really bonkers do people start questioning pollution and green house theories as valid. Better late than never I suppose.

Well die hard environmentalist would argue that you shouldn’t even use air conditioners and heaters. But I am not that person, so I argue that in lieu of heating your whole home one should purchase a space heater and just warm the rooms you and your family use frequently. Makes sense to me, and I am sure it saves energy.

I think the Patton Electric Ceramic tower heater is a wise choice. The image is listed above and it offers the following features:

• space saving
• heat and cold (you don’t have to buy another one in the summer)
• remote control operable
• high/medium/low settings
• comfort temp. digital thermostat
• oscillating
• price: $71.11

Not bad right? I especially like the fact that it is both a heater and an air conditioner. The seasons and temperatures have been so quirky that you never know what setting you will need to use through out the span of the day, let alone the season!

To purchase this heater and shop for assorted models, click here.