Fun facts • September 9, 2018

6 Clever Ways to Disguise Trash Bins

by Philip Cooper

You probably don’t give much thought to your garbage cans, other than remembering to put them out on the right day. But we all have to store our trash and recycling bins somewhere, and doing so can be a challenge on a smaller property, especially if you don’t want them to be an eyesore. If you’re struggling to find a stylish way to store your bins, check out these smart and inspiring ideas. Now, is it black or green bin day this week?

Garbage Bins 1: Outhouse Design, original photo on Houzz

Choose a screen. The curved screen in the corner of this courtyard is an attractive feature in its own right, thanks to the decorative cutwork pattern, and offers an elegant way to hide ugly plastic bins from view.

By using a screen like this, you can section off as much of the garden as you need — to store bikes or garden equipment as well as bins. To blend in the structure even further, you could grow climbers up and over the screen or along the wall behind.

Garbage Bins 2: London Front Gardens, original photo on Houzz

Create a brick shelter. Built in red brick to match the house, and tiled with slate, this practical storage area blends with the property’s exterior and actually enhances the space with its character and interest. The look is mirrored in the raised bed at the front of the drive for a coordinated finish.

A custom compartment on the left neatly houses the bin, while two smaller storage compartments on the right make room for stacking recycling boxes.

Garbage Bins 3: Fenton Roberts Garden Design, original photo on Houzz

Make it part of the garden. The aim of this front garden design was to create a wildlife haven, and rather than see the bins as an unsightly obstacle to be hidden away, the owners decided to make them integral to the design.

They created a sturdy wooden structure with a living roof that works as an extension of the garden and is planted with wildlife-friendly flowers and foliage.

Garbage Bins 4: Beertje Vonk Artist, original photo on Houzz

Design it into an outbuilding. In a larger space, an open-sided outbuilding like this one is ideal for storing and hiding bins. It’s painted a heritage shade and is partly screened in front with evergreen topiary to create a visually appealing feature — a great way to smarten up a drab drive.

This idea would complement a traditional or cottage exterior, but if your style is more contemporary than country, you could choose a sleeker style, or paint it a darker shade to tie in with the exterior of your home.

Garbage Bins 5: Kate Eyre Garden Design, original photo on Houzz

Tuck it into a border. Can you spot the trash bins on this drive? They’re neatly tucked away in the wooden box to the left of this image, and the impact of the structure has been much reduced by positioning it in a decorative floral border and planting low standard trees right alongside it.

The structure also has a green roof planted with succulents to further disguise the box and make it as visually appealing as possible.

Garbage Bins 6: The Honest Scot, original photo on Houzz

Build a clever storage wall. If space is limited, why not make your recycling containers work extra hard by turning their storage area into a boundary wall, as these smart homeowners have. This neat wooden shelter screens the bins from the road while creating a clean, contemporary-style wall.

Fun facts • July 8, 2018

6 Clever Ways to Disguise Trash Bins

by Philip Cooper

Garbage Bins 1: Outhouse Design, original photo on Houzz

Garbage Bins 2: London Front Gardens, original photo on Houzz

A custom compartment on the left neatly houses the bin, while two smaller storage compartments on the right make room for stacking recycling boxes.

Garbage Bins 3: Fenton Roberts Garden Design, original photo on Houzz

They created a sturdy wooden structure with a living roof that works as an extension of the garden and is planted with wildlife-friendly flowers and foliage.

Garbage Bins 4: Beertje Vonk Artist, original photo on Houzz

Garbage Bins 5: Kate Eyre Garden Design, original photo on Houzz

The structure also has a green roof planted with succulents to further disguise the box and make it as visually appealing as possible.

Garbage Bins 6: The Honest Scot, original photo on Houzz

Housing Trends • June 28, 2018

Simple Steps for Maintaining Air Quality in Your Home

by Philip Cooper

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Most of us tend to think of air pollution as something that occurs outdoors where car exhaust and factory fumes proliferate, but there’s such a thing as indoor air pollution, too. Since the 1950s, the number of synthetic chemicals used in products for the home has increased drastically, while at the same time, homes have become much tighter and better insulated. As a result, the EPA estimates that indoor pollutants today are anywhere from five to 70 times higher than pollutants in outside air.

Luckily, there are many ways to reduce indoor air pollution. We all know that buying organic and natural home materials and cleaning supplies can improve the air quality in our homes, but there are several other measures you can take as well.

How pollutants get into our homes

Potentially toxic ingredients are found in many materials throughout the home, and they leach out into the air as Volatile Organic Compounds or VOCs. If you open a can of paint, you can probably smell those VOCs. The “new car smell” is another example of this. The smell seems to dissipate after a while, but VOCs can actually “off-gas” for a long time, even after a noticeable smell is gone.

We all know to use paint and glue in a well-ventilated room, but there are many other materials that don’t come with that warning. For instance, there are chemicals, such as formaldehyde, in the resin used to make most cabinets and plywood particle board. It’s also in wall paneling and closet shelves, and in certain wood finishes used on cabinets and furniture. The problems aren’t just with wood, either. Fabrics—everything from draperies to upholstery, bedding, and carpets—are a potent source of VOCs.

The good news about VOCs is that they do dissipate with time. For that reason, the highest levels of VOCs are usually found in new homes or remodels. If you are concerned about VOCs, there are several products you can buy that are either low- or no-VOC. You can also have your home professionally tested.

How to reduce VOCs in your home

Make smart choices in building materials.

For floors, use tile or solid wood—hardwood, bamboo, or cork – instead of composites.
Instead of using pressed particle board or indoor plywood, choose solid wood or outdoor-quality plywood that uses a less toxic form of formaldehyde.
Choose low-VOC or VOC-free paints and finishes.

Purify the air that’s there.

Make sure your rooms have adequate ventilation, and air out newly renovated or refurnished areas for at least a week, if possible.
Clean ductwork and furnace filters regularly.
Install air cleaners if needed.
Use only environmentally responsible cleaning chemicals.
Plants can help clean the air: good nonpoisonous options include bamboo palm, lady palm, parlor palm, and moth orchids.
Air out freshly dry-cleaned clothes or choose a “green” cleaner.

Fight the carpet demons.

Choose “Green Label” carpeting or a natural fiber such as wool or sisal.
Use nails instead of glue to secure carpet.
Install carpet LAST after completing painting projects, wall coverings, and other high-VOC processes.
Air out newly carpeted areas before using.
Use a HEPA vacuum or a central vac system that vents outdoors.

Prevent Mold.

Clean up water leaks fast.
Use dehumidifiers, if necessary, to keep humidity below 60 percent.
Don’t carpet rooms that stay damp.
Insulate pipes, crawl spaces, and windows to eliminate condensation.
Kill mold before it gets a grip with one-half cup of bleach per gallon of water.

We hope this information is helpful. If you would like to learn more about VOCs and indoor air quality, please visit http://www.epa.gov/iaq/.