Rich's for the Home

5 Things You Never Knew About Electric Fireplaces

Electric fireplaces are undergoing major redesigns to reflect Americans' desire to save space and heat efficiently, while still enjoying the benefits of a crackling fire. Here are five concepts that are revolutionizing the electric fireplace industry:

1.  You can have flames without heat.

Electric fireplaces are efficient at zone heating, and they’re certainly a lot better looking than baseboard heaters or fan-forced wall heaters.

But perhaps the most attractive quality of an electric fireplace is its ambiance. With the flick of a switch, you can turn off the heat and enjoy the flickering flames any day of the year.

One of our favorite ambient fireplaces is the Illuminations Electric Fireplace (pictured above) from Fireplace Extordinair (FPX). This candlescape fireplace features flickering LED flame technology, and enhances the design of any bedroom or bath.

2.  Fireplace “smoke” isn’t really smoke.

The OptiMyst from Dimplex is revolutionizing the entire electric fireplace industry with its patented smoke effect. The OptiMyst creates a three-dimensional flame, glowing logs and a shimmering ember bed, and produces “smoke” that is actually mist.

Pictured below are the contemporary Rockwell model (left) and the traditional Renwick.

This 5-second video demonstrates what the OptiMyst fire looks like:

3.  Fireplaces and TVs go together.

Media consoles are absolutely the hottest items in the electric fireplace industry for 2012. These space-saving units are both practical and add a significant “wow” factor to your family room, media room, or “man cave.”

A typical media console includes storage for media components (receiver, DVD/Blu-Ray player, speakers), space on top for a wide screen TV, and of course, a built-in electric fireplace.
Media consoles come in many shapes and sizes, from the ultra-sleek Novara (below, left) to the transitional Brookings (below, right).

 

  4.  Slim and sleek is in.

Wall-mounted fireplaces such as the Synergy from Dimplex have a linear look, similar to a flat screen TV. Because they mount right on a wall, they open up much more living space in a room while simultaneously serving as a beautiful focal point.

5.  Glass is the new log.

Log fireplaces are quickly becoming a thing of the past. Today, you’re more likely to see decorative flame beds customized with colored glass, stone, black pebbles, or driftwood.

This Convex Wall-Mount electric fireplace from Dimplex has black pebbles in the flame bed, and can be customized with a variety of decorative fill, so your fireplace will complement your home’s décor.

Here's a video of the Convex:

Bonus: Portable space heaters are disguised as electric fireplaces.

If you’ve been reading our blog, you already know about the Mini Cube Electric Stove from Dimplex.

The latest concept in electric space heaters, The Cube quickly takes the chill out of the air and manages to look ultra-fashionable while doing so.

Stop by Rich's 5 Puget Sound showrooms in Lynnwood, Bellevue, Tacoma, Southcenter, and Silverdale, and ask to see our full line of electric fireplaces. If you don’t see quite what you want in our showroom, we’d be happy to order ANY product from the Dimplex catalog for you.

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Retro-Cool Space Heater: Mini Cube Electric Stove

By Laura Christianson
Guest columnist

My office is located in the lower level of our tri-level home, so it’s perennially chilly – sometimes downright cold – in my little room. I stopped by Rich’s to see what they offer in the way of space heaters, and was introduced to a funky little red electric fireplace called the Mini Cube.

The sales literature calls the Mini Cube a “unique and charming electric stove.” But I call it “cute” and my husband calls it “cool.”

Other than its compact size (13-inch width x 14 ½-inch height x 8-inch depth), the feature that instantly sold my husband and me is that the Mini Cube looks like a real fireplace. There’s a glowing coal bed with dancing flames, generated by a hidden clear 60-watt chandelier or candelabra bulb.

Despite the appeal of the fireplace-esque flames, our bottom line when it comes to purchasing a space heater is: Does it crank out the heat?

Turns out this little guy (I’ve decided this fireplace is of the male gender) heats quite efficiently. It heats up to 400 square feet. The low heat setting provides 600 watts of heat output, while the high setting cranks out 1200 watts, comparable to the large, ugly space heater in my kitchen.

The Mini Cube plugs into a standard 110/120 V household outlet, and has a quiet fan.
I read several reviews of the Mini Cube online, and buyers highly recommend it for use in the following types of rooms:

• Office
• Apartment
• Bedroom
• Rec room
• Dorm room (as long as college rules allow for space heaters)
• Kitchen
• Hobby Room
• RV

The Mini Cube comes in a gloss-red finish. If you’re looking something a bit larger or in a white chrome finish, consider the Mini Cube’s big brother, aptly named The Cube.

Reminding me of my Apple computer from the early 90s, The Cube is 18 ½ inches wide x 18 ½ inches tall x 10 ¼ inches deep and provides 1,480 watts of heat output (650 watts on the low setting and 1300 watts on high).

The Cube and Mini Cube are manufactured by Dimplex, the industry leader in electric fireplaces. Dimplex products are produced by our neighbors to the north in Ontario, Canada.

And here’s the best news: For a limited time, Rich’s is offering the Mini Cube for $99 (it retails for $149). That’s a great price for an electric fireplace that’s not only efficient, but provides a lot more ambiance than a run-of-the-mill space heater.

Here’s a video of the UK version of The Cube so you can see what the flames look like:

More About The Cube

• Mini Cube
• The Cube

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The Best of Rich's 2011: Articles About Hot Tubs, Fireplaces, Grills and Outdoor Furnishings

1. Hot Tubs and Spas

1. 5 Tips for Heating Your Hot Tub Economically
2. Affordable Hydrotherapy: Clearwater Spas XS Series 
3. Experience Color and Light Therapy in Your Hot Tub Spa
4. Bling for Your Hot Tub

Stoves, Fireplaces, and Inserts

1. 3 Important Factors to Consider When Choosing a Wood Stove for your Home
2. How to Cook on Your Wood Stove
3. Features to Look for in a Pellet Stove
4. The Perfect Combo: A Flat Screen TV and a Fireplace

Grills & Grilling Accessories

1. Love to Grill? Short on Time? Try Jamie Purviance’s New Cookbook
2. The Best Grilling Accessories for the Outdoor Cook (Slideshow)

Recipes for the Grill

1. Jerky Lovers: Now There’s a Cookbook for You
2. Recipes: Warm Potato Salad With Beer, Grilled Honey Salmon, and Grilled Strawberry Kebobs
3. Delicious Holiday Grilling Recipes

Outdoor Furnishings

1. Outdoor Patio Heaters: Shapes and Sizes to Meet Your Needs
2.  Warm Up Your Patio with an Outdoor Rug
3. 3 Ways to Protect Your Patio Furniture from the Elements
4. The Most Popular Colors and Styles in Outdoor Furniture
5. Fire Pits and Chat Groups: The Hot Patio Furniture Trend
6. All-Weather Wicker: #1 Trend in Outdoor Furniture
7. Hardwood Furniture from Jensen Leisure: Perfect Indoors and Outdoors (Slideshow)

Entertaining & Ambiance

1. Decorate Your Winery, Restaurant, or B&B with Furnishings from Rich’s
2. How to Make Your Own Soda from Home
3. The Perfect Gift: Ceramic Fire Pot
4. Butt Rub, Dr. Pepper BBQ Sauce, and Other Delights to Tempt Teenagers

Bristol Gas Stove from Hearthstone: Three-Sided Fire Viewing and High-Tech Controls

I love watching the flickering flames in my gas stove from all angles. Which would explain why I like the Bristol stove from Hearthstone. With its three-sided fire viewing area, I can spend hours lounging near this attractive stove, which, incidentally, comes in three colors: black, brown, and basil. 

Couch potato’s dream

The Bristol is both attractive and efficient. It heats up to 1800 square feet, and its remote control allows you to adjust several of the stove’s features from anywhere in the room:

“Smart thermostat”:  Control the room temperature up or down, just as you would with a regular thermostat. This feature modulates the stove’s flame levels automatically as the room reaches your set-point temperature.

Five-level flame control: Adjust the flame height up or down.

Two-stage (split) burner:  Change the ambiance of your room.

Five-speed fan control: Regulates the blower’s function and speed.

“Child-safe” lock-out feature: Prevents little ones from fiddling with the stove’s controls.

 

ProFlame electronic ignition system

When your stove isn’t in use, the pilot is off, resulting in considerable fuel savings. The Bristol also comes with a battery backup, so you can use the stove even if one of our winter wind storms leaves you without electricity.

Natural Gas or Propane

The Bristol is factory configured for natural gas, but is easily convertible to work with liquid propane.

Owner's Manual

Learn more about this energy-efficient gem by downloading the owner’s manual.

More of Rich’s Articles on Hearthstone Stoves

• Features to Look for in a Pellet Stove
• Heritage Pellet Stove: The Prettiest Pellet Stove in Town (Efficient, too!)

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Visit  Rich's

For more details about our products and for directions to our five Puget Sound showrooms, visit Rich's website, richshome.com

Stop by any of Rich's 5 Puget Sound showrooms in Lynnwood, Bellevue, Tacoma, Southcenter, and Silverdale and ask about the Bristol, as well as our other Hearthstone stoves.

Decorate Your Winery, Restaurant, or B&B with Furnishings from Rich’s

Looking to dress up a winery, restaurant, B&B, boutique hotel – or perhaps a wedding reception?

Rich’s can help you select the perfect furnishings and fireplaces to enhance your business or special event.

When you visit Tsillan Cellars Winery and Vineyards at Lake Chelan, you’ll spot the Tuscany furnishings pictured above (by Hanamint®) in Sorrento's Ristorante.

Dunham Cellars in Walla Walla also features furnishings from Rich’s.

This is an ideal time of year to plan your décor for next spring and to place your order. Here are some fun ideas to help you dream:

Accent Tables

Whether your décor is reminiscent of Italy or France, Rich’s bistro sets and accent tables add pizzazz. Pictured: Tango Bistro Table from Alfresco Home.

Wine consoles and wine racks

This lovely console holds 10 bottles of wine (Limone, from Alfresco Home).

If you need a wine rack that fits in a corner, try this 78” Butler’s Station and Wine Rack (Compass Collection from Alfresco Home)

Beverage Cooler

This bottom rack of this attractive round beverage cooler can double as a fruit bowl or display a floral arrangement. (From Alfresco Home)

Fountains

The soft trickle of water adds soothing elegance to any indoor or outdoor setting. Rich's carries a nice selection of fountains in several sizes. Pictured: Favonius fountain from Alfresco Home.

Accessories

Atop this Baker’s Rack (from Kessler): 17” x 13” Wine and cheese (from Merritt), 8 oz. etched brown acrylic wine glasses (Merritt), and a fruit bowl filled with leather balls.

Lighting

Whether you’re looking for lighted pussy willow or cherry blossom branches, battery-operated LED chandeliers, table top torches, or votive candleholders for patio umbrella tables, Rich’s offers a large selection of accent lighting to help you create the perfect mood for your event.

Related Articles on our blog:

1. Tempest Table Top Torch: Portable, Affordable Ambiance
2. The Perfect Gift: Ceramic Fire Pot
3. Warm Up Your Patio with an Outdoor Rug
4. Outdoor Heaters Take the Chill Off
5. The Most Popular Colors and Styles in Outdoor Furniture
6. Fire Pits and Chat Groups: A Hot Patio Furniture Trend

Visit Rich's

Stop by any of Rich's 5 Puget Sound showrooms in Lynnwood, Bellevue, Tacoma, Southcenter, and Silverdale and browse our complete line of furnishings for your business or event.

  ‘Like’ Rich’s on Facebook

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Warm Up Your Patio with an Outdoor Rug

They come in large and small sizes. They’re durable. They’re inexpensive. They’re colorfast. And you clean them by hosing them off.

They’re outdoor rugs, but they work equally well indoors. Whether you like splashy colors or soothing muted tones, an outdoor rug adds a sophisticated touch to your patio, kitchen, or family room decor. Plus, it keeps your tootsies warm!

Typical features of indoor/outdoor rugs include:

• UV stabilized to minimize fading
• Insect and mildew resistant
• Standard and custom sizes available
• Easy clean: Vacuum your rug regularly and sponge spots clean. For deep cleaning, rinse with a solution of mild detergent and water, hose off and allow to dry thoroughly.

Liora Manne Rugs

At Rich’s, we carry two lines of elegant indoor/outdoor rugs from designer Liora Manne.

The Terrace Collection is ideal for casual living. Rich, blended colors add a distinct charm to these flat woven rugs. Machine-loomed in Turkey from durable polypropylene fibers, they feature a dense, tight weave that allows for intricate detailing.

  

  

The Tropez Collection offers the look of a natural fiber rug, but is far more durable and practical.

  

  

Walk on our Rugs!

We have a large selection of rugs on the showroom floors at Rich's five Puget Sound showrooms in Lynnwood, Bellevue, Tacoma, Southcenter, and Silverdale.

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Outdoor Patio Heaters: Shapes and Sizes to Meet Your Needs

By Laura Christianson

I love to sit outside on my patio in the evenings. Problem is, it’s chilly.

My neighbors have a couple of outdoor heaters, and let me tell you, those babies really crank out the heat. Being a cold-blooded person, I decided it was time to invest in my own patio heater. I was flabbergasted by the variety of stylish (yes, I said stylish) heaters.

You can get propane, natural gas, or electric, portable or permanent. You can put ‘em on your patio, balcony, or terrace or in your gazebo, garage, or shed. Stainless steel and hammered bronze are the hot (pun intended) finishes this year.

Rich’s understands the needs of us always-cold Western Washingtonians, so they stock a full line of outdoor heaters. Not only that, but many are fully assembled and they’ll give you a demo, right there in the store. Prepare to warm up, quickly!

Here are a few of the models I discovered while I wandered around Rich’s Lynnwood showroom. I’ll start small and move up to the 7-foot tall ones later in this article.

Aura 1200 Watt heater

 

This little guy, which would be perfect for mounting in a garage or shed, cost $199.99 + tax when I was in Rich’s.

Parasol Electric Patio Heater

  

It doesn’t spin like a ceiling fan, which would be kind of dangerous, but this indoor-outdoor infrared heat lamp has three burners. This umbrella heater folds up when you’re not using it.
 
Arizona portable stainless steel tabletop heater

   

I love this little guy, which was $149.99+ tax during my recent trip to Rich’s. I’m showing you two shots: the manufacturer’s image, and a shot I took of it on a patio table, so you can see just how portable it is.

Portable hammered bronze stainless steel heater

Like its cousin above, only dressed up.


Pub table with built-in electric heater

I really, really like this one, and asked the folks at Rich’s to demonstrate it for me. The tabletop warms up and you can set mugs of coffee or tea or whatever on the table and they’ll stay warm. Additional heat flows through the vertical tube, keeping your legs and body toasty while you enjoy the sunset.

87-inch tall hammered bronze patio heater with table

Now we get to the big guys! Imagine the pub table above, only much, much taller.

88'" tall tapered stainless steel heater with table

Tall, sleek, and sexy. Can a heater be sexy? This one is.

Quartz glass tube – stainless steel

This one wins my award for best futuristic-looking heater. (This model also comes in hammered bronze.) I haven’t seen it in action, but I’ve been told by the knowledgeable salespeople at Rich’s that flames shoot up the quartz tube in the middle.  Who knew a heater could provide entertainment?

Heat up at Rich's

Stop by any of Rich's five Puget Sound showrooms in Lynnwood, Bellevue, Tacoma, Southcenter, and Silverdale. Many of our outdoor heaters are on the showroom floor and available for you to test.

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The Perfect Gift: Ceramic Fire Pot

Finding the perfect gift for Mother’s Day, graduation, birthdays, or weddings can be a challenge. How do you select something that your special person will delight in?

I’ve just discovered that perfect gift. It’s a decorative ceramic fire pot.

Not only is this beautiful little fire pot trendy and attractive, it’s a great conversation piece. And it’s priced right, at $35 from Rich’s.

The neat thing about this ventless, clean-burning ceramic fire pot is that you can burn it indoors or outdoors. It uses gel fuel, and each burn lasts for 2 ½ - 3 hours – just about right for an evening garden party.

If you want to burn your fire for a shorter period, simply extinguish the flame with the included snuffer tool and re-cap the can of gel fuel. You can re-use the remaining gel fuel for your next fire.

The fire pot uses Real Flame gel fuel. This brand of gel fuel creates a bright yellow, orange, and red flame that crackles just like a log fire. It’s like having your own personal mini fireplace! An added bonus: you don’t have to clean out this fireplace, as it doesn’t leave any soot, smoke, or ashes behind.

Real Flame gel fuel is made from premium grade isopropyl alcohol and thickeners to enhance stability. The Real Flame brand is the “thickest” gel fuel on the market. It’s not liquid and will not break down, separate or liquefy as quickly as other brands. The gel fuel is environmentally friendly, non-toxic, and clean burning. 

The Real Flame ceramic fire pots are flying off the shelves at Rich’s, so hurry in to one of our five Puget Sound showrooms (Lynnwood, Bellevue, Tacoma, Southcenter, and Silverdale) and snap up a few. I like to keep several on hand to give as gifts throughout the year.

While you’re visiting, ask to see our full line of personal fireplaces, including:

• Sienna Outdoor Fireplace
• Diamond Personal Fireplace

We also have a great selection of tabletop fire places, fire pits, and outdoor heaters.

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Rich’s Featured in Hearth & Home Magazine

Rich’s has the honor of being the featured cover story in Hearth & Home’s March 2011 issue. Hearth & Home is the leading trade journal serving the hearth, barbecue and patio furnishings industries.

“Finding a Way,” by Bill Sendelback, notes that, unlike many retailers who have cut back during the recession, Rich’s instituted an aggressive marketing plan. And it worked!

Here are some excerpts from the 5-page article:

Rich’s “ended 2009 with revenues equal to the prior year. In 2010, management became even more aggressive, and closed out the year with a 25 percent increase in sales.”

• Patio furniture and Outdoor Room items were up 40 percent.
• Grills and spas were each up 35 percent.
• Hearth products were up 10 percent.

“We took the position that we were going to keep the barn full,” says operations manager Jon Chapman. “We put ourselves in a position where we could get product to the customer by the following week, at the latest. We ran promotions on patio items in which we promised to deliver within three days; we maintain an average inventory of $4 million to $5 million” (in our five Puget Sound stores).

Rich’s formula for success?

• Professional merchandising
• Stunning showrooms and product displays
• Stellar customer service (Rich's has an A+ Rating with the BBB)

Product Displays

Co-owner Marianne Chapman and her daughter, Jennifer Parrick, redesign each showroom annually. “After selecting the new outdoor lineup at the Causal Furnishings Market in Chicago, Jennifer spends hours thinking through how to best merchandise and design Rich’s five showrooms.”

The focus is on designing realistic displays that help customers visualize how the items will look in their homes.

Hearth Products

The flagship Lynnwood store has 60 burning models of hearth products on display and even Rich’s smallest store in Silverdale has 20 burning models.

Grills & Spas

Grills are showcased in porticos or in outside display areas, and every store has two to five working Clearwater Spas on display, and private areas where customers can take a free wet test.

Delivery & Installation

Rich’s uses a combination of its own delivery and installation crews as well as independent contractors who work primarily for Rich’s.  “We install, frame in, do the brick or stone work and whatever else it takes in the home,” says Jim Van Norman, general manager.

Rich’s brings their high-quality product lines to the public’s attention through aggressive advertising. In 2011, their entire advertising budget will be devoted to television commercials and internet marketing.

“Our products are ‘show me’ products, and the only way to really show them is with TV or the Internet,” says sales manager, Dennis DeMartini.

Show Me!

We’d love to show you our products. Stop by any of our five Puget Sound showrooms in Lynnwood, Bellevue, Southcenter, Tacoma, or Silverdale. Feel free to replicate our displays in your home!

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Fire Pits and Chat Groups: The Hot Patio Furniture Trend for 2011

You’ve heard of patio sets – which typically consist of four chairs around a dining table. But are you familiar with chat groups?

Chat groups, also known as conversation sets or chat pits, consist of four chairs gathered around a fire pit. Whereas the focus of patio sets is on sitting and eating, the focus of chat groups is on – you guessed it – sitting and chatting.

The focal point of a chat group is the fire pit (also known as a fire bowl).  A fire pit sits lower than a table, creating a relaxed (and warm!) atmosphere conducive to conversation.

Here's an example: The Vesuvius Chat Pit, manufactured by O.W. Lee (available from Rich's):

 

What is a Fire Pit?

If you haven’t seen a fire pit in action, it provides the ambiance and comfort of a campfire minus the smoke and ash. Fire pits are designed for outdoor use, but they are not wood-burning, so you shouldn’t attempt to cook (or roast marshmallows) over them. 

Many fire pits have adjustable flames and they are powered with either liquid propane, gel fuel (an alcohol-based blend), or natural gas. The bowl can incorporate realistic log sets, river rock, lava rock, or tumbled glass.

Below is an interior view of the Glass Top Firelight, from Agio, along with an exterior view of the same fire pit:

 
    

Following are examples of various styles of fire pits:

Largo Chat Pit, from O.W. Lee:

Santorini Chat Pit, from O.W. Lee:

Hampton Real Flame Fire Bowl:

Mix-and-Match

If you already own a patio set, consider adding a fire pit to your set. You can mix and match chairs, sofas, and swivel gliders and add a complementary fire pit to create a fresh, updated look for 2011. We has several chat groups on display in our five Puget Sound showrooms in Lynnwood, Bellevue, Southcenter, Tacoma, or Silverdale, so you can get great ideas for what will look best on your patio.

Our chat group displays include outdoor dishware as well as a variety of statuaries and planters so you can easily design a new look for your entire outdoor room.

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Avalon Cypress Gets New Bronze Finish

I’m having a hot flash!

Well, not a physical hot flash, but a metaphysical one. 

That’s because one of my favorite gas stoves, the Avalon Cypress, is going to the prom, all decked out in classy bronze.

The bronze high-temperature powder-coat finish is a new direction for Avalon, but one I’m predicting will be a “hot” improvement for the popular brand.

Last month on my blog, I showed you some videos of the Cypress -- a freestanding gas stove with a three-sided view of the fire. My favorite feature of the Cypress is its flexibility (who knew a stove could be flexible?).

Customize It!

You can customize the Cypress by choosing from three interior log and stone looks:

1. Detailed six-piece log set
2. Driftwood fire with glass floor media (Glass media comes with your choice of reflective Platinum, Bronze or Cobalt Blue colors)
3. River stones with glass floor media (pictured below). Glass media comes with your choice of reflective Platinum, Bronze or Cobalt Blue colors.

You can also customize the following elements:

1. A plain firebox or a reflective black enamel liner
2. Top vent or rear vent
3. Black metallic paint or the new bronze finish pictured above.

The GreenSmart operating system makes operating the Cypress easy and energy-efficient.

All About The Cypress

Read all about the Avalon Cypress in my blog post, "View the Fire in Your Stove from Anywhere in the Room."

See the Cypress in Action

To test-drive the Cypress gas freestanding stove, stop by any of Rich's Puget Sound showrooms in Lynnwood, Bellevue, Southcenter, Tacoma, or Silverdale.

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How to Select the Perfect Wood Stove for your Lifestyle

When you’re shopping for a wood stove, you need to evaluate the following:

1. Style
2. Construction
3. Size

STYLE

If you’re looking for a contemporary style, you need look no further than Morsø. For the past 150 years, these cast-iron wood stoves, crafted in Denmark, have been touted as world-class.

CONSTRUCTION

Morsø stoves are unique in that they aren’t welded, but are bound with ceramic string and bolted together with screws so they’re sealed perfectly.

Morsø stoves use cast iron that’s nearly twice as thick as stoves made of sheet iron, which means they retain and distribute heat longer.

SIZE

Size does matter when it comes to wood stoves. Here are some questions you should ask that will help you evaluate which size and model of stove to buy:

Local climate

1. How long and intense is the cold season where I live?

Here in the Pacific Northwest, the length and intensity of our winters is – well – short and small.  Unless your wood stove will your sole source of heat, or if you’re heating over 2,000 square feet, you can probably get away with a small or medium-sized stove.

Inside temperature preferences

1. Do you like it really warm and toasty? Or just moderately warm?

How you’ll use your stove

1. Will your wood stove supplement an existing heating system?
2. Will you use your wood stove to cut back on oil, gas, or electric energy consumption?
3. Will you be heating an entire home with your wood stove?

Weatherization

1. How well is your home insulated?
2. Is there a tight seal on your doors?
3. Do you have thermal-pane windows?

Heating area

Here are some pointers that will help you determine whether you need a small, medium, or large wood stove:

Small stove

• For heating 1,000-1,200 square feet
• Ideal for heating living rooms, kitchens, bedrooms, seasonal cabins and cottages
• Ideal for zone heating larger homes equipped with central heating – you can save 20-30% in energy costs by supplementing with a small wood stove

Medium stove

• For heating 1,200-2,000 square feet
• Well-suited to heating older, small homes or medium-sized energy-efficient homes
• Also good for cottages and cabins

Large stove

• For heating 2,000 square feet
• Ideal for heating large, open plan houses or older, drafty medium-sized homes

This video from our friends at Morsø walks you through your options:

Related articles on our blog about Morsø Stoves

Morsø European-Style Wood Stoves: Where Green is a Way of Life

Preview Morsø stoves in your own virtual living room

See a Morsø Stove Up Close and Personal

Stop by any of Rich's Puget Sound showrooms in Lynnwood, Bellevue, Southcenter, Tacoma, or Silverdale.

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View the Fire in Your Stove from Anywhere in the Room

I love curling up in front of my stove with a good book, drowsily watching the flickering flames.

The folks at Avalon Firestyles must know how flames mesmerize us, because they designed the Cypress, a freestanding gas stove with a three-sided fireview.

That means we can view the fire through large windows (745 square inches, to be exact) on the front and both sides of the stove.

But here’s the feature I like most about the Cypress: You can choose from three different interior log and stone looks:

1. Detailed six-piece log set
2. Driftwood fire with glass floor media (Glass media comes with your choice of reflective Platinum, Bronze or Cobalt Blue colors)
3. River stones with glass floor media (pictured below). Glass media comes with your choice of reflective Platinum, Bronze or Cobalt Blue colors.

To get the full effect of each of the three looks, watch the demonstration video below:

Avalon Cypress Flame Detail Showing Log Set Options from Travis Industries on Vimeo.

Here are several additional features of the Cypress that I find appealing:

Overhead Accent Light

Whether the fire is on or off, an adjustable, downward-pointing accent light glows above the logs, serving as a night light or as a soft indirect accent room light.

A “Green” Heating Powerhouse

The Cypress produces up to 40,000 BTUs and heats up to 2,000 feet. But this stove is also exceptionally “green” to operate. The Cypress uses the GreenSmart™ system, which provides precise control over the amount of heat and flame. Its intermittent pilot and gas control system includes a two-stage Dancing-Fyre™ burner, giving you an energy-efficient turn-down ratio of up to 70% on natural gas and 82% on propane.

The Comfort Control™ system allows you to turn off the rear burner and just keep the front burner on. This allows for less heat and lets you use your gas stove year-round.

Radiant and Convective Heating 

The Cypress provides heat in two ways:

1.  Radiant heat comes off the stove in straight lines. Think of warming your backside around a campfire. Radiant heat gives the room gentle warmth and comfort to the room.

2.  Convection heat works like a forced-air furnace. The built in heat exchanger harnesses the radiant energy from the fire and transfers it to the air as it naturally circulates around the firebox. The super-heated air is then delivered not just into the room but throughout the house through natural convection.

Optional Blower

The addition of the 165 CFM blower increases the flow of air around the firebox. This makes it easier to move the convective heat out of the room and into the rest of your home.

GreenSmart™ Remote Option

The Cypress gas stove can be installed and operated with a wall thermostat or basic remote control which offers ON/OFF and thermostat controls.

But who wants a wall thermostat when you can use a GreenSmart remote? This nifty gizmo gives you the ability to control all the stove’s functions (except the pilot setting and accent light) from one hand-held remote. You can run the stove in manual mode, set it to the traditional thermostat mode or in the “Smart Thermostat Mode.”

In “Smart Mode,” the flame modulates up/down as opposed to shutting OFF/ON like normal thermostats, thus conserving fuel and maximizing heating ability.

Direct Vent Technology

The Cypress features direct vent technology and can be vented vertically or horizontally, which means you can locate it in most areas of your home without worry. You can even install the Cypress on a hearth in front of an existing fireplace and vent it up the chimney.

The Cypress does not require any type of hearth pad in many installations, including wood flooring. The Cypress is also approved for close clearances to the back wall without expensive heat shields. This saves floor space and eliminates the requirement for expensive non-combustible wall protection.

Battery Backup for Emergencies

Last, but not least, the cypress has a built-in battery backup, which means you can operate your stove during power outages.  The back-up system automatically switches back to AC when the power comes back on.

The stove also has a battery-powered LED-lit control panel that automatically lights up when you lower the access panel. Handy for seeing the controls in a dark room.

See the Cypress in Action

To test-drive the Cypress gas freestanding stove, stop by any of Rich's Puget Sound showrooms in Lynnwood, Bellevue, Southcenter, Tacoma, or Silverdale.

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Experience Color and Light Therapy in Your Hot Tub Spa

Color therapy, or chromotherapy, uses a combination of color and light to balance a person’s physical, emotional, spiritual, or mental energy.

The folks at Clearwater Spas must have had chromotherapy in mind when they created lighting packages for their hot tub spas. You can program your spa to gently cycle through the entire spectrum of colors, or you can “freeze” the color you like best.

I did a bit of research on how specific colors can affect our moods or emotions. According to the famous Luscher-Color-Diagnostic, our attraction to certain colors might signal areas where we are imbalanced.

Bring on the spa to fix that imbalance!

Here are some of the potential benefits specific colors are said to have:

Red

• Overcoming negative thoughts
• Self-confidence
• Security and safety

Orange

• Overcoming depression
• Expanded interests and activities

Yellow

• Increased memory and concentration
• Stimulating curiosity and interest
• Aids in discernment and decision making

Green

• Reduces stress
• Increases sense of calm, balance and relaxation

Blue

• Helps with insomnia
• Increases peace, mental relaxation
• Boosts confidence in speaking

Indigo

• Greater intuition and awareness
• Assists with strong, deep sleep
• Boosts imagination

Violet

• Suppresses appetite
• Reduces excitement and irritation
• Increases selflessness and generosity

Aqua/Turquoise

• Helps with sleep
• Increases freedom of loving expression

Magenta

• Balances emotions
• Increases sense of peace

Pink

• Suppresses appetite

Light Therapy in Clearwater Spas

Several models of Clearwater Spas are designed to provide light therapy (or, if you’re not into light therapy, you can call it “mood lighting” or “entertainment lighting”).

• On models that include a waterfall, small lights stairstep down the waterfall.

• On models with a pop-up water fan, there’s a light built into the top of the spray fan.

• There’s a large spotlight in the footwell and lights behind the pillows, in the armrests, and in the interior steps.
• There are even lights built into the spa’s exterior side panels, making it easy to find your spa during our dark Pacific Northwest evenings.

If you purchase the optional removable spa bistro table (pictured), the table’s translucent pole is lighted on the inside, creating a cool space-age effect kids will love.

Whether you battle the Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) that’s so common in our neck of the woods, or you just want to chase away the doldrums with a combination of water and light therapy, come in to Rich’s and try it for yourself.

Up Close and Personal

Rich's is the exclusive Puget Sound dealer of Clearwater Spas, and we’d like you to take a free, private wet test in one of our spas. Contact any of Rich’s five Puget Sound showrooms in Lynnwood, Bellevue, Southcenter, Tacoma, or Silverdale.

Related Articles on our blog:

1. Bling for your hot tub
2. Rich’s Spas: Try Before You Buy
3. Spa Care Products – Rich’s Stocks Everything You Need
4. How to turn your Hot Tub into a Salt Water Spa 
5. How to Shop for a Hot Tub or Spa Cover

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Credits: http://www.therapycolor.com/

The Perfect Combo: A Flat Screen TV and a Fireplace

When the clunky TV we’ve had since circa 1985 finally gave up the ghost, we replaced it with a slick new flat screen HDTV. Next to go will be our equally clunky, floor-to-ceiling entertainment center (the one that formerly housed said clunky TV).

I know we’re not alone in making this transition into the 21st century (11 years late). And the folks at Dimplex figured this out, too. Their new Windham media console fireplace combines an ambient fireplace with an entertainment center.

Thank you, Dimplex!

What’s a Media Console?

The Windham incorporates a TV stand (TV not included, unfortunately) with ideal viewing height, plenty of storage for electronics and media, and a safe, clean, green electric fireplace.
The unit consists of the following components:

• Firebox
• Storage compartments
• Raised TV platform (holds up to a 52” TV)

The console has a contemporary, bow-front design that includes two large storage compartments, each outfitted with a shelf and smoked glass door.

“We developed this media console to be a very practical solution to wide-screen TV placement and storage, as well as a sophisticated “wow” factor to the room,” says Colin Stewart, Design Director at Dimplex.

Traditional or Contemporary Firebox

The fireplace sports a smoked-glass plate, supported by sleek polished aluminum cylinders.
You can choose from two wide-screen fireplaces (yes, you read that correctly: wide-screen fireplaces). Both models feature the “Dimplex patented life-like flame effect.”

One model (pictured at the top of this article) incorporates the traditional, realistic-looking logs and a flickering ember bed while the other firebox (below, right) uses a luminous bed of crushed glass for a contemporary feel. In the contemporary model, layers of special glass pieces are illuminated from below and refract and reflect the light, resulting in a warm glow that is both contemporary and captivating.

While different in appearance, both fireplaces can take the chill off a room with their powerful fan-forced electric heaters. And both can be used with or without heat so you can enjoy the ambiance of a soothing fire even it’s warm and you don’t wish to add additional heat to the room.

In addition, both fireplaces can control room temperature automatically with their adjustable thermostats and are safe to use in close proximity with flat-screen monitors.

Small Carbon Footprint

Because it’s all-electric, the Windham media console is easy on the environment and has a small carbon footprint. Both versions operate on any standard 120V household outlet.  No venting or other complicated installation is needed.

Just place the Windham media console electric fireplace where you would like and plug it in. Operation is economical; average operating costs are less than one cent per hour with the flame operating without heat and four cents per hour with the heater operating.

Up Close and Personal

Stop by any of Rich’s five Puget Sound showrooms in Lynnwood, Bellevue, Southcenter, Tacoma, or Silverdale to take a test drive of our Dimplex electric fireplaces (we carry several other brands of electric fireplaces, as well).

Download the owner’s manual for the Windham.

Subscribe to Rich’s blog

You won’t want to miss a single blog post in 2011. Subscribe to our blog via your feed reader or receive our latest posts in your e-mail Inbox. Simply click “Subscribe to this blog’s feed” or fill out the form located in the right-hand sidebar of our blog.

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The Best Blog Posts About Fireplaces, Hot Tubs, Grills and Outdoor Furniture

We’re so grateful that you’ve chosen to spend time reading Rich’s blog; our goal is to provide you with the best information about stoves and fireplaces, hot tubs and spas, outdoor grills and patio furniture.

Here’s a look back at some of our most popular articles during 2010, organized by category:

Stoves, Fireplaces, and Inserts

The Advantages of Zone Heating Over Central Heating

How to Choose the Correct Wood Stove Size for Your Home

Morso European-Style Wood Stoves: Where “Green” is a Way of Life

Heritage Pellet Stove: The Prettiest Pellet Stove in Town

A Greener Way to Heat Your Home

Illuminations: The Most Romantic Fireplace Ever

Hot Tubs/Spas

Hot Tub and Spa Safety Tips

How to Shop for a Hot Tub or Spa Cover

How to Turn Your Hot Tub into a Salt Water Spa

Clearwater Spas: Committed to Energy-Efficiency


Outdoor Grills

How to Clean Your Outdoor Grill

Pellet Grills: Sophisticated, Energy-Efficient, and Easy to Use

Lump Charcoal vs. Briquettes: Which is Better for Grilling?

Consumer Reports Gives Weber Genesis Grill Top Marks

Recipes for the Grill 

Delicious Grilling Recipes from Traeger

Beer Butt Chicken Recipe for the Big Green Egg

Molten Chocolate Cake Recipe for the Big Green Egg

Outdoor Furniture

How to Choose Outdoor Furniture that’s Best for the Northwest

Ipé: Truly Sustainable Furniture

Stay Toasty Year-Round with an Outdoor Heater

Contemporary Wicker Furniture from Ebel

The Latest Wrought Iron Furniture from O.W. Lee

Join Us in 2011

You won’t want to miss a single blog post in 2011. Subscribe to our blog via your feed reader or receive our latest posts in your e-mail Inbox. Simply click “Subscribe to this blog’s feed” or fill out the form located in the righthand sidebar of our blog.

We also provide daily tips and Internet-only specials on our Facebook page. Hope you’ll “like” us, and encourage your Facebook friends to join us, too.

Best wishes for a happy and prosperous 2011, from all of us at Rich's!

Rich’s for the Home has five giant showrooms in Bellevue, Tacoma, Silverdale, Lynnwood, and Southcenter. Our displays are designed to give you ideas, inspiration, and to open your eyes to possibilities for your home. Come see us!

Tempest Table Top Torch: Portable, Affordable Ambiance

Ever since I got my first glimpse of a Tempest Torch, I’ve been mesmerized by its spinning, spiral-like flame.

Now, Tempest Torch has created an even more irresistible product: the Tempest Table Top Torch. You can use this smaller version indoors or outdoors.

Measuring about 20 inches high, the portable torch makes a great conversation piece at a dinner party or business conference. Its beautiful ambiance is perfect for a romantic, stay-at-home date night or an evening wedding. You can even take it on a camping trip; it’ll draw a crowd like moths to flame.

The Tempest Table Top Torch is easy to use, too. It uses a gelled ethanol-based fuel (appropriately called “Ambiance" fuel). The non-toxic, clean-burning fuel comes in either a can or a refill-sized container.

Simply insert the fuel can in the holder, light it, and lock it in place. In seconds, a beautiful flame will spiral upwards towards the top of the tempered glass housing. The fuel canister provides 1 ½ - 2 hours of burn time.

Here’s a helpful instructional video from Kurt Rumens, president of Travis Industries (manufacturer of the Tempest Torch brand, located in Mukilteo, WA):

Table Top Tempest Torch from Travis Industries on Vimeo.

You can purchase the Tempest Table Top Torch for $249 at any of Rich’s five Puget Sound showrooms. Rich’s also stocks a variety of other Tempest Torch products, so stop by and ask for a demonstration.

Related articles

• The Hottest Hearth Products for 2010
• Tempest Torch Wins 'Best of Show' for Outdoor Products

Stay Toasty Year-Round with an Outdoor Heater

My neighbors have an outdoor heater on their patio, and they sit outside every evening of the year, enjoying the sunset while sipping a glass of wine.

Whether it’s a chilly early spring day or a summer evening that turns a bit nippy, an outdoor heater can keep you toasty while you’re outdoors.

You can use an outdoor heater in locations other than your patio, too. How about your garage? Or a potting shed? Or a gazebo, solarium, balcony, garden – even under an outdoor umbrella or awning.

I poked around Rich’s Bellevue showroom and two outdoor heaters caught my eye:

Solaria all-season outdoor quartz heater (from Philips)

These electric heaters use infrared technology to provide instant and directional radiant heat over a 10 ft. x 10 ft. area (that’s the average size of a patio table with six chairs). This heat is based on the same natural effect the sun provides, so it warms you and not the air.

The great thing about this heater is that there’s no warm-up time; heat instantly pumps out when you switch it on.

The Solaria has a weatherproof casing and safety glass and comes with an adjustable steel wall mounting bracket. Plus, it plugs in to any 120V plug –in.

Electric patio umbrella heater (from Dimplex Outdoor Living)

I’d never seen an umbrella heater before, and these gizmos are neat! This electric heater attaches to almost any size patio umbrella – you don’t even have to remove the umbrella from its base to hook it up.

Each of its three elements functions independently, providing directional heat. Similar to the Solaria, the quartz radiant elements warm you, rather than the air. Plus, its arms fold for easy storage (and the heat automatically turns off when you fold the arms).

Both heaters operate silently, so you’re not going to be distracted by any strange humming or buzzing. Plus, they’re affordable. (And it’s never too early to plan for Mother’s Day… or Father’s Day.)

Stop by any of Rich’s five Puget Sound locations to see our full line of outdoor heaters. 

The Most Romantic Fireplace Ever: Illuminations

I want one.

When I got my first glimpse of an Illuminations Electric Fireplace, the flickering candles drew me like a moth to flame.

Who cares that these babies don’t put out any heat? They’re beautiful. They’re romantic. They’re every candle lover’s dream.

I can imagine one hanging on the wall right above my bed. Or next to the soaking tub in my master bath (if I had a master bath with a soaking tub in it!). Or in an outdoor room. The possibilities are endless.

Illuminations Fireplaces (by Fireplace Xtrordinair) come in two configurations: see-through or one-sided. You can choose from three types of candles: wax, calcite stone, or a white plastic sleeve.

Each candle is equipped with a 4 watt, 70-hour bulb, and the “flame” wiggles to give the appearance of a flickering flame. It’s quite entertaining, actually. I kept peering at the flames to try to figure out what made them wiggle.

If a candle bulb burns out, no worries. Simply pull the front off the fireplace and replace the bulb. The fireplace runs off wall electricity, just like a lamp.

After choosing a decorative mantle to house your Illuminations fireplace, you can mount it on a wall by fitting it between studs, or you can set it up as a freestanding fireplace. Just plug it into any electric outlet and you’re good to go!

Of course, you can purchase your own Illuminations Electric Fireplace (or two, or three) at Rich’s for the Home.

Here’s a video so you can see Illuminations Electric Fireplaces in action:

Illuminations Electric Fireplace by Fireplace Xtrordinair from Travis Industries on Vimeo.

The Hottest Hearth Products for 2010

Wood and Pellet Stoves

“There’s nothing like the radiant heat a wood or pellet stove produces,” says Wayne Dooley, Director of Training at Travis Industries. “People like the scent.”

Wood and pellet stoves are “hot” sellers because of the $1,500 tax credit (which extends through 2010) on energy-efficient stoves, fireplaces, and fireplace inserts. In order to qualify for the tax credit, says Wayne, the *biomass stoves must be over 75% efficient.

More than 38 models Travis Industries manufactures meet the 75% efficiency criteria, says Wayne. And ALL of the brands Rich’s carries qualify for the biomass tax credit.

*Biomass fuels are organic materials (such as wood pellets) that can be used as fuel for heating.

Electric Fireplaces

Electric fireplaces are also extremely popular, particularly among condo owners and renters, who are restricted from installing wood or gas stoves.

“People who live in condos and apartments like the ambiance of a fireplace, and they usually need to heat only about 450 square feet of a family room where they gather,” says Wayne. “With an electric fireplace, all you do is plug it in.”

The great thing about electric fireplaces is that any of the decorative “faces” that come on gas fireplaces can also be used on an electric fireplace. So if you spot a fancy face that you must have, ask your Rich’s sales associate how you can get your electric fireplace faceplate customized.

An electric fireplace with a mantle generally sells for around $1,000. If you substitute a fancy face, you could add as much as $1,000 to your cost, Wayne estimates.

Tempest Torch

The Tempest Torch will draw you in like a moth to flame. This decorative outdoor gas lamp has a mesmerizing flame that spirals and dances within its tempered glass walls. It would be a perfect addition for a poolside area, outdoor room or store front.

It can be mounted on a wall, deck post, in-ground post, or pillar. There’s also a portable patio model.

The Tempest Torch, which is manufactured by Travis Industries and sold at Rich's, won Best Outdoor Room Furnishing and Best of Show for all outdoor products at the Hearth, Patio and BBQ Expo.

Here’s a video of the Tempest Torch in action:

Tempest Torch Informational DVD - Widescreen Format from Travis Industries on Vimeo.