Rich's for the Home

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.

Lighting for ambiance

It's been getting dark a bit earlier in the evening these days and in order to stay outside longer, you might need some lighting. In addition, lights can add a touch of ambiance for romantic evenings.

Have you seen the flameless candles? They are a great way to add ambiance to your patio. We also use them for power outages. A group of them can add a classy and elegant look to any patio or outdoor area. They work well inside too. How are they flameless, you ask? They operate with flickering LED bulbs and batteries. Even from a few feet away, they look like real candles.

Torches are another option to add some light and there are a variety of kinds available for your outdoor room. Tiki Torches are a great option if you want the flame look and/or to have your lighting up above your chairs and tables. Added benefit? They bring warmth.

At the risk of sounding trite to some, Holiday Lights are also a great way to add both ambiance and light to your outdoor room. Even a string or two of white lights can be magical.

Four Green Plants for Your Yard this Winter

Do you give up on the green in your backyard during the fall and winter? You shouldn’t. Think of how much green can spice up your yard all year round. Wouldn’t it be nice to have a yard that doesn’t look like its dragging until Spring?

So spice it up.

1. Plant a couple of small Evergreens, which of course flourish in the cooler weather. That is why we enjoy them over the holiday. A few specially trimmed ones around your deck or in your yard can add a bright look to your yard.

2. Cool weather veggies can also be a great accent around your deck or even in containers that you can shelter somewhat from the storms. Try lettuce, kale, broccoli, cabbage, peas and bok choy.

3. Consider shrubs. Get leaf shrubs that do not shed their leaves so that you don’t have more to pick up. A good choice is a laurel shrub.

4. Ferns are reminiscent of the woods behind your house, of course, but they are also brought effectively into landscape pictures here in the northwest. There are several varieties that work well here, including Deerfern, Licorice Fern and Western Bracken Fern. 

While you are at it, plant any bulbs now that you want in the spring. They will show their colors the first chance that they get late winter/early spring.

Decorate with a Theme

Here’s a fun way to decorate your outdoor room.

1. Choose a theme first. For instance, seascape, beach, festival, wild flowers, ultra modern chrome, antique, vintage, a certain era, tropical, etc.
2. Then choose your colors. You may find that certain themes need certain colors. For instance, tropical or beach will need sandy and blue or aqua colors. So if you have a few fav colors that simply must be a part of your area, match a theme with it or use them as accent colors.
3. Look at texture. Are there any particular patterns you like? I don’t know why but I am big on stripes. Most anything I choose has some type of striping on it. Do you want solids with no patterns at all? Florals? Polka dots? Choosing textures and colors ahead of time will help you tremendously when you shop.
4. Consider accessories that match your theme. Seascapes call for large pieces of driftwood, floats, rocks, ornamental grasses, a net and maybe even some sand. Perhaps fish-shaped plates or a ceramic/wood fish to adorn the wall would be appropriate. If you choose tropical, tropical looking plants such as a banana is essential. And so are tiki accessories, woven pieces, torch lighting and bright colors. Don’t forget the tropical fish.

Water Features in Your Outdoor Room

Water is so very cool! As I type, I am listening to a small water feature built into my yard. Two tiny waterfalls splash into a ground basin, and further over is a fish pond, currently covered by a net as one bird in particular has chosen to fish-dive multiple times in the past couple of weeks. We are down by about twenty fish already. No more of that! There is a point where even I intervene in "nature".

The Urban Farmer’s Store recommends the following considerations when choosing water features for your background oasis:

Safety:

Fountains and waterfalls can be designed with concealed reservoirs that are child safe.

Site Considerations:

Carefully choose a site avoiding areas directly under plants or trees so you don’t disturb the roots when excavating. This will also keep large quantities of leaves from falling directly into the reservoir.

Design Considerations:

Plan for a way to hide electrical cords, pipe, and tubing running in and out of the water. This can be accomplished by using stones to cover them as they come up over the edge or by using tank adapters for running through the reservoir wall.

Electrical Requirements:

Electricity must be located nearby, but at least 6’ away to reduce the risk of accidental electrocution…Allow for at least two GFCI protected plugs. 12-volt pumps connected to a transformer may be an option in areas without convenient line voltage.

Sunlight and Wind Considerations:

Sun and wind play a role in how much maintenance your water feature will require. More than 5 or 6 hours of sunlight will cause algae to bloom, and the wind blows debris and leaves into the pond which can choke the filter. Use edging at least 2" above ground surface around the reservoirs to act as a barrier to windborne debris. Plant dense perennials or evergreen shrubs around low edges to keep wind from blowing debris into raceways or reservoir and provide a built-up rim around the edges. Most water plants, like water lilies, require a minimum of 5 hours of sunlight per day to bloom, so select a level spot with the appropriate amount of sun, realizing that more sun can mean more algae. Wind and sun also help determine how rapidly water will evaporate from your pond, and how often you need to refill it.

Water supply requirements:

Plan for a convenient way to fill, drain, and refill your water feature.

So you have probably noticed that when you create backyard bliss, you and your family are not the only ones who enjoy it. Your fine-feathered friends also find more time to visit, land, explore and (yes) human-watch.

 Birds add a special ambiance to your retreat. If you visit Flower & Garden Shows and take in the display gardens, one of the first sounds you will hear are piped-in birds. Why? Because it is a relaxing sound of nature to our souls.

 In your backyard retreat, the sound does not have to be piped in—it will come with the birds. And furthermore, you can learn more about them by setting up a camera to watch more closely when you aren’t in the general area and when human-noise is not playing a factor in their appearance.

Tips for the best bird watching:

1. Make bird watching a family event.
2. Explore how to draw more of them with plants, bling and specific bird food.
3. Keep a log of the different species seen. Note what seems effective in bringing them.
4. Take pictures of various birds to include with the log.
5. Support any nest-building or bird-family activity.