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Control over your stuff. Author Mike Nelson has updated his popular book “Stop Clutter From Stealing Your Life” ($15.99, New Page Books) with hopes of convincing readers that they truly can change their habits for the better. Nelson overcame his own cluttering behavior and eliminated 1 ton of clutter the first year of trying. Among the additions to this latest version of the book:
Steps for keeping clutter from coming into your home or office in the first place.
Advice for eliminating computer, financial and time clutter.
Ideas for dealing with inherited clutter from relatives.
energy
Old-home fire hazard. A new study from the Fire Protection Research Foundation (homewiringsafety.com) determines that potentially hazardous electrical conditions are often hidden in older homes and may be identified only during a thorough electrical inspection. The research examined 30 homes ranging in age from 25 to 100 years. Among the findings:
Some “knob-and-tube” and rubber-insulated wiring failed testing conducted with high voltage levels, especially after being subjected to bending.
Service panels in most of the homes surveyed had one or more significant safety problems due to aging, improper installation or misuse.
Circuit breakers that are not properly installed in boxes showed signs of corrosion, insect infestation and other potentially serious problems.
Light fixtures in several houses showed evidence of potentially dangerous conditions including improper installation, frayed or damaged wire insulation, improperly grounded boxes, and use of improper wiring or bulbs.
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High-end home trends. According to Gary Lee Partners, a Chicago-based design firm with offices in New York and San Francisco, high-powered professionals and CEOs want homes that perform on different levels, whether as a gathering place for family and friends or as a venue for entertaining and hosting events. Most are also collectors who tend to pattern their homes after aesthetics gleaned from travel. For this customer, some of the top design requests include:
Stone carved bathtubs.
Hotel-inspired lighting controls.
Swedish plank wood floors.
Burma teak from India.
Antique Chinese cabinets transformed into bathroom vanities.
Custom flooring that mimics ancient Roman roads.
