All you have to do is look at the advertising from condominium and home builders to see that environmentally friendly housing is the hottest thing in building today. And condominiums, by their very nature, take advantage of almost all of green housing’s possibilities.
Condominiums have the advantage of population density, with a compact physical footprint which [...]

Although retirement was more than ten years away, six years ago Vincent and Darylee Buszko decided they just couldn’t retire in New Jersey. Cold weather and the busy, never-stop atmosphere of the Northeast prompted their decision to attend a Live South Real Estate Show. Their search had begun. They attended two real estate shows and [...]

Yes, granite countertops are all the rage, but those who want something different and desire a truly environmentally friendly kitchen or bath countertop are going counter to this trend and choosing sustainable countertops.
Granite is a natural stone and therefore, a finite resource. As an alternative, consider a countertop made of recycled glass, recycled plastic, porcelain [...]

When you move, you typically check out the safety of the neighborhood, quality of schools and distance to shopping, restaurants and work. Now you can add another item to that checklist: the local air quality.
When considering a move to a new city, air quality should be one of your top considerations, because the quality of [...]

We know we all need water to survive, but when you turn on the tap, you can’t help but wonder: What exactly is in my tap water?
The answer is quite simple. Your drinking water is not as pure as it should be.
In 2009, the American Society of Civil Engineers gave America’s water infrastructure a [...]

Today, you cannot pick up a newspaper or magazine without an allusion to the myriad of environmental dangers we face. Television, radio and the Internet are equally full of doomsday scenarios. It’s easy to become paralyzed by the magnitude of issues such as global warming. Instead, let’s think about the problems that jeopardize our everyday [...]

In their everlasting and sometimes exhausting quest to consistently provide homebuyers with the most innovative, attractive and functional product, Linger Longer Homes has again set the bar high with Ideal Living magazine’s 2009 Ideal Home. Based on Linger Longer Homes’ most popular signature home plan, the Ideal Living Home took all aspects of this attractive [...]

1. Innovations in Custom Cabinetry
You can judge a book by its cover: ALNO cabinets are as beautiful on the inside as they are on the outside. One of their new storage solutions is refined wood inserts in smoked oak for drawers of any width.
www.ALNO.com
2. ThermaSol Steam Showers Convert Residential Baths into World-Class Spas
Rejuvenate yourself in [...]

1. Hand Carved Garden Benches by Stone Forest
An indispensable element for enjoying the garden on a particularly splendid day, the garden bench has been given an extra dose of style. Now in an array of different designs and intriguing natural materials like basalt, travertine and even sustainable hardwood—a good bench can transform any area from drab [...]

Dear EarthTalk: With plug-in hybrid and electric cars due to hit the roads sometime soon, will there be places to plug them in besides at home? And if so, how much will it cost to re-charge?
Nicole Koslowsky, Pompano Beach, FL
Gasoline-electric hybrids, like the Toyota Prius, are all the rage due to their fuel efficiency, and [...]

Green homes are finally hitting the mainstream, but make sure you know what you’re buying before you sign the contract.
Ten years ago, environmentally- and energy-conscious home buyers had a tough time finding ‘green’ homes. Even though models were out there, builders and real estate agents had no idea how to market them and sometimes didn’t [...]

Within recent years, green building has become a hot topic among environmentalists and the general public alike. Low-energy appliances, solar roofing and even recycled fabrics have become part of the common parlance—but what about recycled pilings and bridge materials? That’s where Waff Contracting, Inc. comes in. They’ve created a unique niche in today’s green economy by [...]

By Don Logay
As the unofficial “What’s New Guru” of the home improvement industry, I attend numerous trade shows throughout the year and scour lots of magazines and trade publications looking for new and exciting products, intriguing concepts and “gotta have” gadgets that make life just a little bit better.
My checklist for “Hot Home Products” includes [...]

We’ve all heard it before… “Now is the time to buy.” At Ideal Living, we believe it. Our second annual Parade of Ideal Homes features the homes and values that exist within top communities from around the South. These pages are merely snapshots of what the communities have to offer. This year, Ideal Living has [...]

1. Sophisticated beauty
Made Goods celebrates sophisticated beauty, bringing together the unique and the unexpected. Taking cues from diverse influences, they have created a line of stunning mirrors that include a wide range of styles. The result of eclectic inspirations, unexpected materials, distinct aesthetics and diverse production techniques, Made Goods’ products are home décor that [...]