January Is Traditionally the Month to Refresh Your Towels

Irwin Weiner ASID - There are still January White Sales, with bedding and bath linens going on sale during the month, but it's not such an obsession any more with homeowners. I kind of, sort of wish it were, and I'm speaking for myself and my family, too ... in a wistful kind of way. It was nice to have an annual "trigger" or prompt to get us to change out something in our homes.

Fresh bedding and bath towels are a great way to add a necessary jolt to a bedroom and bath - but today, I'm obsessed with bath towels! Here are some of my favorites, and perhaps this post will prod me into action this year. Replace some fading, fraying towels with fresh ones. Click on each photo for more product information.

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The Way We Cook: Photographs from Kitchens Around the World

Jay Johnson - If you enjoy cooking the way Irwin and I do, plus you love home design, you'll fall for the new photography book from Saveur magazine called The Way We Cook: Portraits from Around the World. There's nothing more thrilling than to peek inside the homes and kitchens of the world's peoples, and this book offers us a rare and special vantage point.

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Video: Meet the Nest Learning Thermostat

Irwin Weiner ASID - I admit that I'm an Irwin-Come-Lately to some new products and concepts, but when I finally become aware of them, look out! I'm usually an evangelist for the good things I discover. That's why I was particularly excited to hear about the Nest Learning Thermostat. First good point: it's a thermostat that learns how to program itself based on family habits and patterns and times of day and when it's told to conserve energy and when it's told that people will be away.

Second: you can control the thermostat, and keep it learning, from a smartphone app. So you could be approaching your house after being away for a week, and program it to warm up by the time you arrive from the airport. Elegant, simple, and effective - that's how home appliances should be. Today's featured video will introduce you to the Nest, and click here to visit their website for more information.

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10 Favorite Italian Lighting Pieces to Dazzle Any Interior

Irwin Weiner ASID - Let there be light, but let it be stylish, task-oriented, and quirky. I love light fixtures when they start a conversation, combining full-on lighting function with sculptural interest for an interior design scheme. When I saw some of the latest Italian lighting designs, as well as a few classics, I had to share them with you. Consider any of them to add light and life to your decor. Click on each photo for more product information.

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