Rich's for the Home

Luxurious Outdoor Furnishings from Gensun: New This Season at Rich's

It’s fun to dream, isn’t it? When you step through the doors of Rich’s showroom, you’ll feel as if you’ve entered a dream world. Head one direction and you’re at the “beach,” where outdoor wicker furnishings in shades of sand and sky blue dominate the landscape.

Head another direction and you’re in “wine country,” where gorgeous wrought iron bistro sets, romantic fire pits, and cozy loveseats beckon you to settle in with a glass of vino.

Bella Vista Dining Collection by Gensun

Rich’s interior decorating team redesigns our showroom floors every spring to highlight the latest outdoor furniture trends, color combinations, fabrics, and finishes. Pathways wind throughout the showroom floor, leading you through displays intended to stimulate the senses and help you imagine how the furnishings might look in your home.

This season, we’re delighted carry a brand that’s new to us, Gensun Casual Living. We fell in love with Gensun for several reasons:

1. Their cast aluminum furnishings are gorgeous and include fine detailing and a huge variety of looks. Note the intricate detail on this dining table on display at our Lynnwood store: 
2. Their construction is heavy-duty (just come in and lift a dining chair – you’ll see what we mean!).
3. Their cushions are custom-made, offering tailored style and exquisite comfort.
4. There are 350 fabrics to choose from, so you’re almost guaranteed to find something that matched your unique style.
5. Their warranties on frames, finishes, and fabrics are terrific – for both commercial and residential furnishings.
6. They offer one of the best special-order programs we’ve seen. You can custom-design your order in just a few easy steps, and delivery is quick and efficient.

 Not only can you special order any furnishings and fire pits from the GenSun catalog, but we stock a variety of GenSun collections in our five Puget Sound showrooms (Lynnwood, Bellevue, Southcenter, Tacoma, and Silverdale).

Here’s a sampling of Gensun collections you’ll find in our showrooms and can special order. Come on in and dream!

Grand Terrace Dining Collection by Gensun

Columbia Deep Seating Collection in black - customize with cushions in your choice of fabrics.

Florence Sling Collection (available in Desert Bronze and Midnight Gold)

Avanti Dining Collection

Florence Deep Seating Collection

Bellagio Deep Seating Collection

Terrace Collection

Michigan Collection

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For more details about our products and for directions to our showrooms, visit richshome.com.

Related articles

Tropitone Special Order Sale at Rich's Through April 30

Everything's Coming Up 'Emerald' in 2013 Outdoor Furniture

Glass Media for Fire Pits Comes in 120 Colors and Shapes

Everything’s Coming Up ‘Emerald’ in 2013 Outdoor Furniture

It’s lively. It’s radiant. It’s lush. It’s Emerald, Pantone’s color of the year for 2013.

You’re going to see Emerald everywhere – on fashion runways (should you haunt such venues), in jewelry, footwear, bedding, bath towels, accessories, paint, appliances, stemware, and of course, outdoor furnishings.

Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute®, believes Emerald enhances our sense of well-being and promotes balance and harmony. “The most abundant hue in nature, the human eye sees more green than any other color in the spectrum,” Eiseman said.

“Symbolically, Emerald brings a sense of clarity, renewal and rejuvenation, which is so important in today's complex world. This powerful and universally-appealing tone translates easily to both fashion and home interiors.”

At Rich’s, we’re seeing an upsurge of patio furniture special orders in Emerald and other eye-popping colors, such as Monaco Blue (PANTONE 19-3964), pictured at right.

These fun, yet soothing colors make terrific accents as fabric cushions for chairs, sofas, and swivel rockers, deck umbrellas, accent pillows, and throws.

Here are some shots of displays you'll find on the floor of our Lynnwood showroom:

Tropitone 36" obsidian banchetto table with swivel recliner/rockers.

Tropitone table, patio umbrella, swivel rockers, and accent pillows.

Tropitone Ravello curved sofa with 16" square toss pillows.

Here’s the full lineup of this season’s Pantone color palette:

Row 1:
PANTONE 17-5641 Emerald
PANTONE 14-6011 Grayed Jade
Row 2:
PANTONE 16-4120 Dusk Blue
PANTONE 14-0446 Tender Shoot
Row 3:
PANTONE 13-0756 Lemon Zest
PANTONE 16-3520 African Violet
Row 4:
PANTONE 12-1008 Linen
PANTONE 19-3964 Monaco Blue
Row 5:
PANTONE 17-1664 Poppy Red
PANTONE 16-1360 Nectarine

Stop by any of Rich’s five Puget Sound showrooms in Bellevue, Lynnwood, Southcenter, Tacoma, or Silverdale and we’ll give you a guided tour of outdoor furnishings that show off this year’s colors. We also have lots of catalogs from which you can special order whatever strikes your fancy.

Our Tropitone Special Order Sale is going on throughout April!

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For more details about our products and for directions to our showrooms, visit richshome.com.

Related articles

Tropitone Special Order Sale at Rich's Through April 30

Glass Media for Fire Pits Comes in 120 Colors and Shapes

Pantone Color of the Year: Emerald

pantone fall 2013 color report

Tropitone Special Order Sale at Rich's Through April 30

When you step through the front doors of Rich’s Lynnwood showroom, an eye-popping display of the latest in outdoor furnishings greets you.

It’s the Ravello Cushion Crescent Sectional collection from Tropitone®. This collection is one small sampling of the vast array of Tropitone furnishings you can special order at sale prices from Rich’s, now through the end of April 2013.

During the sale, you'll get great prices when you special order any Tropitone furnishings, any frame, and any fabric available from Tropitone.

We have lots of Tropitone displays on our showroom floors. Meander around the showroom, dream, and imagine what the furnishings would look like in your home, your outdoor room, or on your patio.

This season, curves are in, as evidenced by the Ravello Crescent collection pictured here. Our display features a modular sectional with left and right-curving sofas. The gorgeous shade of blue on the cushions is called Largo Scoop.

 

Also featured are two curved backless benches (the cushions are detachable) in Spider Wood fabric, and coordinating 16” square toss pillows.

 

The finishing touch is the 55-inch round Garden Terrace fire pit, new this season from Tropitone.

While the pieces in the Ravello collection look elegant, they’re built to last. The framing is rugged and finished with aged bronze. And it’s extremely versatile, allowing you to mix and match the pieces as you see fit.

When you shop Rich’s Tropitone Special Order Sale, consider revitalizing your indoor living space, too. Tropitone’s 100% acrylic and acrylic-blend fabrics work equally well indoors and out.

Here's how the Ravello Crescent collection might look in your living room:

Where to Find Rich's

Stop by one of Rich’s five Puget Sound showrooms in Bellevue, Lynnwood, Southcenter, Tacoma, or Silverdale to check out our fire pits and glass media.

  ‘Like’ Rich’s on Facebook

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Subscribe to Rich's Blog

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. 

Visit  Rich's Website

For more details about our products and for directions to our showrooms, visit richshome.com.

Related articles

Glass Media for Fire Pits Comes in 120 Colors and Shapes

Everett Home & Garden Show Starts Friday, March 8, 2013

The 11^th Annual Everett Home & Garden Show runs Friday, March 8 through Sunday, March 10, 2013. The largest Home & Garden show in Snohomish County, it’s held at the Comcast Events Center in downtown Everett.

Rich’s is exhibiting at the show. You’ll find us smack dab in the middle of the arena, in area #306-308 and 309-311. We’ll hope you’ll stop by introduce yourself as you’re browsing the show.

Here's a map so you can find us easily (click inside image to enlarge):

Show Hours:

Fri: Noon - 8 PM
Sat: 10 AM - 7 PM
Sun: 10 AM - 5 PM

Admission Click for $2 OFF printable coupons! 

$6.75 Adults
$6.25 Seniors
Military/Families with ID $2 each
Free for Kids 16 and under

Glass Media for Fire Pits Comes in 120 Colors and Shapes

“Glass Media” is a term you’re going to hear increasingly, because ‘glass is the new log’ when it comes to fire pits and fireplace inserts.

This eco-friendly fireplace décor uses post-industrial glass that has been melted down and has a dye added to it. It can withstand temperatures of up to 1,300 degrees, making it ideal for use in fireplace inserts and fire pits.

Glass Media (also called fireplace glass and fire pit glass) can be used indoors and outdoors. But perhaps the most appealing aspect of glass media is that you can change the color and shape of glass depending on your mood or the color palette of your furnishings.

At Rich’s, we have 120 types of glass media available for you to order, and we stock the top colors and shapes in our showrooms.

Glass media comes in every color of the rainbow, from amber to crystal red to sky blue. A typical fire pit uses 30 pounds of glass media. 

Here are pictures and descriptions of several types of glass media:

Eco Glass

Comes in 11 colors: amber, orange, red, white, yellow, green, black, plum, sapphire blue, sky blue, and smoke. Pictured: Crystal Red Eco Glass

Firebeads

These luminous beads glow and reflect the dancing flames from your fire pit or gas fireplace. The firebeads are approximately 1/2" and uniform in size. They come in 16 colors.
Pictured: Aqua Blue Luster Firebeads

Fireglass

The ¼” bronze fireglass pictured below is a popular color in fire pits that use natural earth tones as the building material.  It also complements rooms with hardwood floors or brown colored walls. The ¼” fireglass comes in 13 colors.

Reflective Fireglass

To add extra flare to your décor, you can add a second reflective color as a topper to accent the fireglass. For example, as an accent for the bronze fireglass above, you could add ¼” platinum reflective fireglass.

Platinum pairs well with almost any other color. It is a starfire-colored glass with a reflective mirror effect on one side. The reflective properties offer a brilliant sparkle under the midday sun or a reflection of fire while the flame is burning after dark. 

Fireglass, ½”

If you prefer a larger size fireglass, it also comes in ½”. The Evergreen fireglass pictured below is an excellent choice in any landscaped area that has a lot of foliage, or in homes where green is the primary color. Half-inch fireglass comes in 9 colors, plus 8 reflective colors.

Stop by one of Rich’s five Puget Sound showrooms in Bellevue, Lynnwood, Southcenter, Tacoma, or Silverdale to check out our fire pits and glass media.

  ‘Like’ Rich’s on Facebook

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

Subscribe to Rich's Blog

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. 

Visit  Rich's Website

For more details about our products and for directions to our showrooms, visit richshome.com.

Get Ready for the Seattle Home Show

The Seattle Home Show is coming to town! From Saturday, February 16 through Sunday, February 24, enjoy one of the world’s largest and longest-running home shows – the Seattle Home Show has been around since 1939!

If you’ve never been to the Seattle Home show, it’s a veritable feast for the senses, with exhibits featuring everything for the home – indoors and out.

Rich’s will be there, of course. At our exhibit, which is one of the Home Show’s largest, we’ll showcase the latest trends in stoves, fireplace inserts, and hot tubs. And we’ll offer the best deals of the year on inventory we’ve brought in especially for the Home Show.

You’ll find Rich’s at the south end of CenturyLink Field Event Center, in #305-307 and #421-423. See yellow mark on the map:

How to “do” the show

• Wear comfortable walking shoes
• Dress in layers
• Bring a sack lunch and beverages (unless you want to purchase from the concessions stands)
• Allot several hours to browse the exhibits, attend seminars, and sign up for contests and giveaways.

Exhibitors

• Want to find a particular exhibitor? Click here to view the full exhibitor list.

Seminars

• Take advantage of the many seminars offered throughout the Home Show.Click here to view the seminar schedule.

Admission

• Purchase eTickets here.
• E-ticket purchasers get free parking at CenturyLink Field Event Center and Safeco Field Garage, plus a free cup of chowder at F.X. McRory's on 2nd & King,
• Plus, you get a one-year subscription to Better Homes & Gardens with ticket purchase.

Location

• CenturyLink Field Event Center, 1000 Occidental Avenue South (between Safeco Field and CenturyLink Field) 

Hours

• Saturdays: 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM
• Sundays: 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM
• Mon – Fri: 12:00 PM to 8:00 PM

Parking

• Plenty of parking will be available at CenturyLink Field Event Center Parking Garage, CenturyLink Field North Lot and Safeco Field Garage.  
• Vehicles with four or more occupants can take advantage of “Four or More Park Free™” in designated parking areas. Free parking with E-ticket purchase.

Smokin' Hot February Deals on Stoves and Fireplace Inserts

 You can take advantage of smokin’ hot deals on wood stoves, pellet stoves and inserts via the Amazing Offers page on Rich’s website.

We regularly add limited-time offers to this page, so check back often to see what’s new.

Here are five scorching hot deals we're offering right now:

Avalon Arbor Freestanding Wood Stove
SAVE $543!

Emphasizing beauty and harmony, the Arbor™ has the subtle artistic detail of cast cherry blossoms and large double doors with 190 square inches of ceramic glass. The top loading firebox offers incredibly easy wood loading. For a medium size wood stove, the Arbor can hold up to 65 pounds of wood.

Avalon Eden - Brown Gas Stove
SAVE $400!

The Eden™ cast iron gas stoves beautiful three-sided fire-view is inspired by the natural arches of interlocking trees and branches. And despite its size, the Eden boasts an incredibly large 416 square inches of fire-viewing – which highlights the realistic wood-like fire from any angle in the room. The Eden produces up to 22,000 BTUs, along with an exceptional turn-down ratio of 70-percent.

Avalon Arbor Pellet Stove - Black
Save $558!

From its sculptured legs, picture frame fire viewing doors to the blooming cast iron cherry blossoms that entwine themselves up the sides, the Arbor pellet stove gives you a subtle organic flourish that will enhance any home.

Lopi Northfield Oxford - Black Enamel Gas Stove
Save $510!

The Northfield™ cast iron gas stove’s classical Early American design and three-side fireview more closely resembles a piece of fine furniture than it does a gas stove. Despite its size, the Northfield boasts an incredibly large 416 square inches of fire-viewing – which highlights the realistic dancing-flame fire from any angle in the room.

The Northfield™ features the revolutionary GreenSmart gas burner system and realistic Ember-Fyre burner. The GreenSmart system is the latest in energy-efficiency gas technology that heats the home while saving on energy usage and lowering heating bills.

Morso 5660 wood insert
Save over $700 while supplies last!

Designed to meet the simplicity of modern, contemporary lifestyle, the Morsø 5660 wood insert offers the discerning homeowner an unparalleled ‘window of fire’. Clean lines, a huge window and a 4-sided ‘picture-frame’ make the 5660 Standard the epitome of Scandinavian design and function.

Manufactured in fine grade cast iron using 98% recycled material; it incorporates ‘state of the art’ non-catalytic combustion technology for environmentally friendly operation.

Stop by any of Rich’s five Puget Sound showrooms in Lynnwood, Bellevue, Tacoma, Southcenter, or Silverdale and ask about our Amazing Offers.

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Visit  Rich's Website

For more details about our products and for directions to our showrooms, visit richshome.com.

Related articles

The Changing Face of the Gas Fireplace: Top Trends for 2013

Gas Insert from Avalon Showcases a Fire that's Second to None

Best of Rich's 2012: Articles about Fireplaces, Grills, Hot Tubs, and Patio Furniture

The World's Cleanest-Burning Hybrid Wood Insert

Rich’s 14-Hour Supersale – Feb 2, 2013

Get ready, folks… our doors open at 7 a.m. Saturday, February 2 for Rich’s one-day supersale.

Prices will be slashed on every fireplace insert and stove in stock, including our popular Avalon and Lopi  brands (manufactured right here in the Seattle area). 

• Demos
• Factory Seconds
• Closeouts – some at cost

Easy financing; five-day installation.

Watch our TV spot:

 

See you Saturday from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. for our 14-hour Supersale at any of Rich’s five Puget Sound showrooms in Lynnwood, Bellevue, Tacoma, Southcenter, or Silverdale.

The World’s Cleanest-Burning Hybrid Wood Insert

If you’re looking for a wood fireplace insert that features the world’s cleanest-burning technology, you’ll want to stop by Rich’s to see the Avalon Large Flush Wood Hybrid-Fyre™ insert.

This ultra-green insert fuses two combustion technologies into one hybrid stove. Here’s how the hybrid technology works, in layman’s terms:

The primary combustion occurs in the firebox. Secondary tubes help re-burn the gases before they leave the firebox. Those unburned gases are then passed through the catalytic combustor, which further reduces emissions and carbon monoxide.

The advantages of this hybrid insert: virtually no smoke exits the insert. Not only that, but this insert boasts emissions of just 0.58 grams per hour. That reduction in emissions means that there’s almost zero carbon monoxide output throughout all burn cycles.

The Large Flush Wood Hybrid-Fyre™ insert burns wood, a renewable resource and the most inexpensive fuel. The insert is capable of heating up to 2,500 sq. feet, with up to a 12-hour burn time.

The large fire box is 3.0 cubic feet and will accommodate a 24-inch log. The insert features a bypass damper for smoke-free firestarting and reloading.

The insert will fit into many fireplace openings and is approved for both masonry and zero-clearance fireplaces.

There are two decorative faces available for this insert: the Cypress™ face with built-in Accent lights, and the Universal™ face with vertical grills.

Stop by one of Rich's five Puget Sound showrooms in Bellevue, Lynnwood, Tacoma, Southcenter or Silverdale to learn more about the Avalon Large Flush Wood Hybrid-Fyre™ insert.

Related Articles on Rich’s Blog

• The Changing Face of the Gas Fireplace: Top Trends for 2013
• Gas Insert from Avalon Showcases a Fire that's Second to None
• Design Your Own Perfect Fireplace at the FPX Website
• A Greener Way to Heat Your Home
• GreenSmart Lopi Stoves
• Avalon Cypress Gets New Bronze Finish

  ‘Like’ Rich’s on Facebook

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

Subscribe to Rich's Blog

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. 

Visit  Rich's Website

For more details about our products and for directions to our showrooms, visit richshome.com.

Related articles

Lopi's New AGP Pellet Stove Burns All Grades of Pellets

Best of Rich's 2012: Articles about Fireplaces, Grills, Hot Tubs, and Patio Furniture

The Changing Face of the Gas Fireplace: Top Trends for 2013

Gas Insert from Avalon Showcases a Fire that's Second to None

Best of Rich’s 2012: Articles about Fireplaces, Grills, Hot Tubs, and Patio Furniture

Without further ado, it’s our bloggy year in review!

Gas Fireplaces & Inserts

• The changing face of the gas fireplace: Top Trends for 2013
• Gas fireplace from Avalon showcases a fire that’s second to none
• Design your own perfect gas, wood, or electric fireplace at the FPX website

Wood Stoves

• Hybrid Cape Cod: The most efficient wood stove on the market
• How to start a fire in your wood stove – without matches or newspaper

Pellet Stoves

• Lopi’s new AGP burns All Grades of Pellets

Electric Fireplaces

• 9 advantages of wall-mounted electric fireplaces
• Media Consoles: A hot home décor innovation
• 5 things you never knew about electric fireplaces
• The Mini Cube: Retro-cool space heater

Hot Tubs/Spas

• The top 12 health benefits of hot tub spas

Fire Pits and Chat Groups

• Fire pits that double as dining tables and beverage coolers

Outdoor Patio Furniture

• UR Comfort patio furniture = For Your Comfort
• Ebel partners with Trees for the Future to promote agroforestry
• Elegant hardwood indoor-outdoor furniture from Jensen Leisure
• Outdoor furniture trends – hot colors and looks
• Mix-and-match finishes and fabrics at the Tropitone Color Center

BBQ Grills

• Australian BeefEater Grill + pizza oven = spectacular!

Recipes for the Grill

• 6 delectable ways to grill corn on the cob

  ‘Like’ Rich’s on Facebook

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

Subscribe to Rich's Blog

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. 

Visit  Rich's Website

For more details about our products and for directions to our showrooms, visit richshome.com.
Rich's has five Puget Sound showrooms in Lynnwood, Bellevue, Tacoma, Southcenter, and Silverdale. Hope to see you soon!

The Changing Face of the Gas Fireplace: Top Trends for 2013

Remember when stoves and fireplace inserts came in one color…black?

Then came variations on black:

• Black with gold accents.
• Black with brass accents.
• Black with nickel accents.

While the traditional black is still the most popular look in free-standing gas stoves and fireplace inserts, we’re seeing huge shifts in stove faces and finishes. Here are some design trends to look forward to in 2013:

SHADOWBOX

The sleek shadowbox face makes a statement with its streamlined, clean look.

On a gas fireplace, the shadowbox looks like a picture frame. The “frame” surrounds all four sides of the fireplace, creating a “shadow” effect around the firebox.

On a fireplace insert, the shadowbox serves as a trim piece, giving the insert a finished look.

Shadowbox with satin finish

FINISHES

Mix-and-match faces and finishes will continue be a trend in 2013. Many gas fireplaces and inserts offer multiple face options in a choice of textured finishes.

Neo-Classic face with brushed nickel finish

Metropolitan face with black painted finish

Charcoal Painted Finish on the  FPX 864 TRV Gas Fireplace

Popular finishes you’ll be seeing in 2013:

• Carbon patina (black tone, hand-rubbed at the factory)
• Pewter
• Black satin
• Bronze patina (Pictured below : Artisan face with hand-rubbed bronze patina finish)

Brushed nickel (pictured below)

MEDIA

Gas fireplaces offer much more than traditional logs. Complementing the sleek shadowbox face, you can choose contemporary options such as glass media or fyre stones (pictured below).

Driftwood fire art is an excellent middle-of-the-road option that’s increasing in popularity every year.

Feeling chilled?

Stop by one of Rich’s 5 showrooms and ask to see our gas fireplaces in action. You’ll get toasty in no time. We promise. Rich’s is located in Lynnwood, Bellevue, Southcenter, Tacoma, and Silverdale.

Related articles:

• Gas Insert from Avalon Showcases a Fire that's Second to None
• Design Your Own Perfect Fireplace at the FPX Website

  ‘Like’ Rich’s on Facebook

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

Subscribe to Rich's Blog

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. 

Visit  Rich's Website

For more details about our products and for directions to our showrooms, visit richshome.com.

Gas Insert from Avalon Showcases a Fire that's Second to None

It’s called the 616. That’s because this new gas insert from Avalon boasts 616 square inches of viewing area, with ceramic glass that goes almost all the way to the bottom of the hearth.

This extra-large insert fits into most fireplace openings and converts an existing masonry or metal fireplace into an efficient heater while preserving the look of a traditional fireplace.

The 616 heats 600 to 2,000 square feet and has a maximum output of 39,000 BTU.

GreenSmart Comfort

This insert includes several standard features – features that are optional on many other stoves. It includes fans, three accent lights, a three-stage burner and a GreenSmart remote. 

The remote allows you to run the fireplace in “Smart Thermostat Mode,” which automatically adjusts the flame height based on the temperature setting. This means that the flame will modulate up or down as opposed to shutting off or on like normal thermostats, thus conserving fuel and maximizing heating ability.



The GreenSmart Comfort Control™ allows the middle and front burner to operate independently of the rear burner. If you don’t need to heat your home but want to enjoy the ambiance of the flames, you can turn off the rear burner with the push of a button.

The GreenSmart split-flow burners offer a more efficient way to heat the room by only burning the amount of fuel necessary to keep a constant temperature. It’s a smarter, greener way to enjoy your fireplace!

Three Burner Options

The accent lights on the 616 not only illuminate the back of the firebox from behind the back log, but also from the top of the firebox. You can choose from among six firebacks and three media options to best fit the architectural style of your home:

The Driftwood Fire Art comes with glowing embers:

 

The Fyre-Stone Rock Kit:

The Traditional Log Set comes with beautifully detailed logs and glowing embers:

Six Fireback Options

Personalize the interior of the insert with one of the following firebacks:

1. Black painted
2. Straight brick
3. Herringbone brick
4. Handmade brick
5. Black enamel
6. Stainless steel

Pictured, left to right: Handmade brick, herringbone, stainless steel

   

Related Articles

• A Greener Way to Heat Your Home
• GreenSmart Lopi Stoves
• Avalon Cypress Gets New Bronze Finish

  ‘Like’ Rich’s on Facebook

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

Subscribe to Rich's Blog

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. 

Visit  Rich's Website

For more details about our products and for directions to our showrooms, visit richshome.com.

Lopi's New AGP Pellet Stove Burns All Grades of Pellets

I love pellet stoves that are not only efficient, but pretty. I’d call the new AGP™ pellet stove from Lopi “handsome.” The rust patina side panels give the stove a classy, yet somewhat rugged, rustic look.

So the AGP pellet stove looks good. But does it couple good looks with high performance?

Most definitely. It has a heating capacity of 800 to 2,000 square feet and cranks out 11,480 to 41,000 BTUs per hour. That’s an excellent range for a pellet stove; in fact, it could practically heat my whole house!

The hopper capacity is 80 pounds of pellets, and it has a burn rate of 1.4 to 5 pounds per hour. Translated into plain English, that means you can get up to 57 hours of burn time before you need to reload the stove.

Not only that, but the stove’s horizontal rotary disc system controls the amount of fuel that leaves the hopper and enters the auger. That means that there is no direct path between the burning fuel, the auger and hopper, which eliminates any chance of burn back.

The AGP is designed to efficiently burn all grades of wood pellets. In fact, that’s how the AGP got its name; AGP stands for All Grades of Pellets. In this stove, you can burn any grade of ¼-inch or 5/16th diameter fuel. It’ll even burn the sawdust that’s left over in the bag of pellets!

The EPA has certified the AGP as extremely clean burning; it produces less the 1 gram of emissions per hour (which makes it exempt from burn bans).

Another nice feature of this stove is that it’s self-cleaning, so you'll rarely need to remove any unburned pellets.

The AGP comes with two side-panel color choices: black painted or rust patina.

All-in-all, the AGP sounds like a winner.

Be sure to visit one of Rich’s five Puget Sound showrooms in Lynnwood, Bellevue, Southcenter, Tacoma, or Silverdale and ask to see the Lopi AGP pellet stove.

Here’s a video that walks you through how to operate the AGP.

Lopi AGP Homeowners DVD by Travis Industries from Travis Industries on Vimeo.

Related Articles

• Features to look for in a pellet stove 
• Pellet Primer: The difference between burining with pellets and cordwood

  ‘Like’ Rich’s on Facebook

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Subscribe to Rich's Blog

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9 Advantages of Wall-Mounted Electric Fireplaces

They’re sleek, stylish, and eco-friendly. Wall-mounted fireplaces are the latest fashion in interior home design, and they’re catching on like – well – wildfire.

Here are nine good reasons why you might want to invest in a wall-mount fireplace:

1. Space-Saving

If you don’t want the bulk of a free-standing wood, gas, or pellet stove, a wall-mount fireplace is an excellent alterative. They come in a variety of shapes and sizes, so whether you live in a large home or an apartment, it’s easy to find a model that fits comfortably on your available wall space.

2. Easy to Install

Similar to installing a wall-mounted flat screen TV, you simply install the wall bracket that’s included with your fireplace near an electrical outlet, plug it in, and you’re good to go. Some models, such as the Chalet (from Dimplex) pictured below, include a pedestal base so you can display the fireplace on a flat surface such as a dresser or buffet table. A portable fireplace… now, that’s the ticket!

3. Stylish

Electric fireplaces feature clean, contemporary lines. The interior – called the “media bed” or “ember bed” – may be a combination of driftwood and river rock (Chalet, above); crushed glass embers (Dusk, pictured below); sand or pebbles.

4. Realistic Flames

The patented LED Dimplex flame technology creates the illusion of a true wood-burning fire.

5. Zone Heating

The Dimplex fireplaces we sell at Rich’s, such as the Strata (pictured below) include a powerful fan-forced heater that can provide supplemental heat to a room. Or, you can switch the heater off and enjoy the ambiance of the flames. A three-stage remote control allows you to control the heat and flame with the touch of a button.

6. Eco-Friendly

No matches. No refueling. No smoke. No chimney cleaning. Not to mention that electric fireplaces produce 90% less carbon dioxide than an average direct vent gas fireplace.

7. Economical

Electric fireplaces plug in to standard household outlets – no re-wiring is needed. And they cost just pennies per hour to operate (based on national average residential electricity rates).

8. Durable

Cabinet-quality wood veneers, hand-applied finishes, and superior hardware ensure that your Dimplex electric fireplace will withstand a lot of wear and tear.

9. Safe

The glass front of an electric fireplace remains cool to the touch, making it an ideal choice for families with young children.

We stock an excellent variety of electric fireplaces at Rich’s. Come in to one of our five Puget Sound showrooms and ask for a demonstration.

Related Articles

• The Most Romantic Fireplace Ever: Illuminations
• 5 Things You Never Knew About Electric Fireplaces
• The Perfect Combo: A Flat Screen TV and a Fireplace
• Retro-Cool Space Heater: Mini Cube Electric Stove

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The Hybrid Cape Cod Wood Stove: Most Efficient Wood Stove on the Market

You’re familiar with hybrid cars – you may even drive one. Did you know there are also hybrid wood stoves?

Our friends at Travis Industries in Mukilteo – manufacturer of the Lopi, Avalon, and FPX brands – have been developing the hybrid technology for nearly three years; they recently introduced their first line of hybrid wood stoves and inserts.

Lopi’s Cape Cod free-standing wood stove (also produced as a fireplace insert) is the world’s most efficient wood stove. The Cape Cod hybrid uses two different technologies, called reburn and catalytic assist, to increase its overall efficiency.

In terms of emissions, the Cape Cod stove produces .045 grams per hour. For comparison purposes, the federal emissions standard for wood stoves is 7.5 grams per hour, and the Washington State standard is 4.5 grams per hour. So you can see that the Cape Cod truly is a clean-burning stove, with a substantially lower emission rate than all other large-capacity wood stoves. 

A practical of understanding the efficiency of the Cape Cod, according to Lopi sales representative Edward Hosack:

“If you put $1 into the stove in fuel costs, you’ll get 80 cents back out into the room.”

Here are additional features of this cutting-edge hybrid wood stove:

• 3 cubic foot firebox
• Heats up to 2,500 square feet
• Cast iron
• Full convection chamber surrounding the firebox
• Large capacity, easy-to-open ashpan – slide out the drawer for no-mess ash removal… no shovel or bucket required
• Bypass damper for smoke-free start-ups and refueling
• 6” flue, which allows for close clearance to walls

Options:

High-performance 400 cfm fan - pushes convection air through the stove, greatly improving heat transfer and air circulation into the room.

Lopi’s exclusive, GreenStart™ igniter makes the star-up process as easy as the push of a button. For more about the GreenStart system, read our article, “How to Start a Fire in Your Wood Stove – Without Matches or Newspaper” (Video + Instructions)

Watch the Cape Cod burning (Video)

Lopi Cape Cod Stove Burning Footage from Travis Industries on Vimeo.

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Design Your Own Perfect Fireplace at this Website

I have a hard time visualizing what a specific fireplace or insert will look like in my home. You can imagine my excitement when I discovered a handy “design your perfect fire” tool at the Fireplace Xtrordinair website.

It’s easy and fun to use this free online tool. Here’s how it works:


Choose the fuel you’ll use:

• Wood
• Gas
• Electric

Select the size of space you’ll want to heat:

• Small room
• Large room
• Whole house
• Ambiance only

Fireplace vs Insert

Decide whether you’ll need a fireplace or a fireplace insert (if you’re retrofitting an existing fireplace to improve its efficiency, you’ll need an insert).

Choose a style:

• Traditional (Early American to neoclassical to French countryside)
• Transitional (a fusion of traditional and contemporary, giving you a variety of design options)
• Modern (simple, sleek, streamlined, and subdued)

Testing 1,2,3

I tested the tool, selecting a transitional gas fireplace insert for a large room. The site displayed three models that fit my criteria.


I chose the “32 DVS GSR Insert” because I liked the look of it and I like the fact that it uses the "Advanced" GreenSmart™ Ember-Fyre™ burner, blower and the GreenSmart™ remote.

I clicked the “Customize Your Fire” button and then selected a face, finish, and door style. This is the fun part, because when you click on different faces and colors, it immediately shows you a preview of what your fireplace will look like.

You can also change the “wall” that displays behind your fireplace, selecting from a variety of options such as:

• Painted wall
• Brown, light, or red brick
• Natural stone
• Stone block
• River rock
• Black granite
• Marble
• Slate or grey slate
• Concrete

Next, customize your fireplace’s interior. Select a fireback (backdrop for the fire) and a log set.

Finally, select from “extras” such as a wall thermostat.

Here’s a picture of my fireplace design:

When you’re finished designing your fireplace, print out the specs and a picture, and bring them to Rich’s when you place your order.

Have fun designing your perfect fire!

Related Articles

1. How to Start a Fire in Your Wood Stove – Without Matches or Newspaper
2. GreenSmart Lopi Stove
3. View the Fire in Your Stove from Anywhere in the Room
4. Avalon Cypress Gets New Bronze Finish
5. 3 Important Factors to Consider When Choosing a Wood Stove for your Home
6. The Advantages of Zone Heating over Central Heating

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Subscribe to Rich's Blog

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How to Start a Fire in Your Wood Stove – Without Matches or Newspaper

You’ve probably done it. Wadded up sheets of yesterday’s newspaper and stuffed it amongst the kindling in your wood stove. Lit innumerable matches and tossed them atop the newspaper. Blew a stream of your own hot air onto the tiny flame until you got lightheaded.

Now, there’s a better way to light a wood stove. It’s called GreenStart™, a state-of-the-art ignition system that lights your stove in about 1 minute with the click of a button.

Now we’re talking!

The GreenStart system pulls room air into a small igniter unit that’s embedded into the sidewall on the back of a wood stove. It super-heats that air to 1400 degrees Farenheit. The super-heated air comes out an exit point on the unit and starts the kindling burning in about 1 minute. The entire cycle of forcing super-heated air through the unit takes about 15 minutes.

When doing a “cold start” of your stove, all you do is place the kindling close to the exit point for the super-heated air and push the “start” button.

When you want to refresh a fire that’s already been lit, you simply load the wood into the firebox and push the button.

In this video, our friends at Travis Industries in Mukilteo, WA (manufacturers of the Fireplace Xtrordinair, Avalon, and Lopi brands), explain how the GreenStart igniter works and demonstrate the ideal way to load kindling into your wood stove when using this option.

Be sure to check out the notes below the video. You’ll learn about two FPX inserts that are available with the GreenStart option.

GreenStart™ Wood Ignitor Option - Available Now from Travis Industries on Vimeo.

How to load kindling into an insert that uses the GreenStart option

1. Add two pieces of kindling to the bottom of the firebox.
2. Add a third, medium-size piece of kindling crossways, as close to the igniter exit as possible.
3. Add a second medium piece of kindling about 1 inch away from the first one; then add additional pieces in a log-cabin fashion.
4. Add larger pieces of kindling.
5. Once you’re finished adding layers of kindling, add larger pieces of wood to the rest of the fireplace.
6. Close the door.
7. If your unit has a bypass, make sure it’s in the fully-open position. Also make sure the air control is in the fully-open position. 
8. Press the “Start” button and the GreenStart system will light your fireplace.
9. After about 15 minutes, when the fire gets going well, close the bypass.

FPX Elite Plus Inserts With GreenStart Option

33 Elite Plus with Single Arched Door

FPX’s exclusive flush-to-the fireplace design enhances the beautiful lines of a classic fireplace and provides modern heating efficiency. This insert heats a space up to 2,000 square feet with less wood and longer burn times and is designed to be installed in both masonry and zero clearance wood burning fireplaces.

33 Elite Plus with Single Rectangular Door

Features the Shadowbox face and single piece panel for a simple design that conceals the convection opening to give a sleek linear appeal. This insert features a variable speed, high volume blower which can utilize the hard-wiring option kit to preserve the classic good looks of your existing fireplace without a power cord showing on the hearth.

Related Articles

• 3 Important Factors to Consider When Choosing a Wood Stove for your Home
• The Advantages of Zone Heating over Central Heating

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Get Your Happy On at the Puyallup Fair, Sept 7-23

It's that time of year -- time to get your happy on and Do the Puyallup!

The fair -- Washington's largest -- runs Friday, September 7 through September 23. Tomorrow, on opening day, bring a non-perishable food donation and receive a FREE gate admission between 9 a.m. and noon.  Last year, over 160,000 pounds of food were donated.

 

Rich's will be at The Puyallup Fair, of course. We’re excited to be exhibiting (and selling) a limited-edition selection of stoves and spas at our booth. Once the Puyallup Fair ends, these products will no longer be available.

Plus, during the Puyallup, we offer “Fair Pricing” -- our best prices of the year at Rich's five Puget Sound Showrooms in Tacoma, Southcenter, Silverdale, Bellevue and Lynnwood.

A bit 'o Puyallup trivia:

Since 1976, people have been humming, singing, and dancing to the 'Do the Puyallup' jingle. You can listen the the jingle here, in three versions:

• Rock
• Gospel
• Country

Download the sheet music so you can play and sing along!

Fair Facts

If you’ve never been to the Puyallup, you’re missing out on the fair of a lifetime. Officially named the Western Washington Fair, the Puyallup is celebrating its 112th anniversary, With over 1 million visitors, the Puyallup is the world’s eighth largest fair.

Concerts, concerts, and more concerts

The fair has a great lineup of evening concerts to appeal to every taste: country, comedy, Christian, rap, pop, and and rock.

1. Willie Nelson
2. Craig Morgan
3. Heart
4. Martina McBride
5. TobyMac
6. Jeff Foxworthy
7. Jackie Evancho
8. Enrique Iglesias
9. Big Time Rush
10. Doobie Brothers
11. Jeff Dunham
12. Pitbull
13. Tim McGraw
14. Train
    

Tips for doin' The Puyallup:

Check out the Interactive Map of the fairgrounds and the Daily Schedule so you can plan your strategy. Be sure to check out the special activity days for discounts and, well... special activities.

If you enter through the Green Gate, you’ll want to visit the sheep, poultry, and horse barns, and then head over to the nearby Food Court.

Enter through the Purple Gate and you’ll be right at the SillyVille Train Station and kiddie rides.

Enter through the Blue Gate, and you’ll start out at the Showplace Stage, where you can catch 100% locally grown entertainment. Be sure to visit the Beef and Dairy, and Livestock barns, and the Commercial Exhibits.

Enter through the Gold Gate, and you’ll be right in front of the Fountain Plaza Stage (magic shows, comedy acts, juggling) and the Columbia Bank Concert Center, where the main Concert Series is held will be to your right.

The Red Gate leads directly to the Western Heritage Center and Merchant’s Building (to your left), the Floral Building and Carnival area (to your right), and the Restaurant Building (straight ahead). 

Food 

No trip to the Puyallup would be complete without Fair Scones filled with fresh berries and slathered with whipped cream.

You’ll also find yummy artery-clogging fare such as funnel cakes, onion rings, curly fries, elephant ears, caramel apples, cotton candy, fudge, and everybody’s favorite, deep fried Twinkies.

Be sure to check out the Fair Food Contests, including The Great American Spam Championship, The Salsa Showdown, and of course, The Original Famous Fair Scone Contest.

Get out a highlighter pen and plan your junk food extravaganza on this downloadable Food Map.

And since Puyallup is a bit off the beaten track, you might need driving directions to get there.

Have a great time doin' the Puyallup, and be sure to stop by Rich's exhibit and say hi!

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Rich's Labor Day Sale Starts Today

It's our biggest sale of the year on hearth products.

Starting today (Wed, Aug 29, 2012) through Labor Day, you'll find fantastic deals on demos, closeouts and factory seconds -- fireplaces, inserts, and stoves, including the Avalon brand.

Not only that, but you'll save thousands on Rich's hot tubs, as the price on over 100 spas has been reduced.

There's more! We're offering final clearance prices on Rich's patio furniture -- save up to 70% off.

The sale ends Labor Day. See you soon at one of our five Puget Sound locations: Bellevue, Lynnwood, Southcenter, Tacoma, or Silverdale.

The Top 12 Health Benefits of Hot Tubs

If you watched the Olympic diving competition, you noticed that the divers soaked in the hot tub immediately after completing each dive. That’s because they wanted to keep their muscles warm and loose.

Most of us will never be Olympians, but we can enjoy the many health benefits hydrotherapy provides. The combination of warm water and strategically placed jets soothe stiff muscles, relieve nagging aches and pains, and stimulate circulation.

Here are 12 health challenges hydrotherapy can help alleviate:

1.  Neck and back pain

The buoyancy provided by the water reduces body weight by 90 percent, taking pressure off joints.

2.  Sports injuries

A warm soak increases blood flow to the injured area, bringing nutrients to help repair the damage.

3.  Sore feet (or cold feet)

Soak your tootsies in a spa set at 103-104 degrees F. for 10-15 minutes per day. (Consult your doctor first if you have varicose veins, lymphostasis, or edema.)

4.  Mental health issues

Color therapy, or chromotherapy, uses a combination of color and light to balance your physical, emotional, spiritual, or mental energy. (Many of Rich’s Clearwater Spas are designed to cycle through a spectrum of colors that provide light- and color therapy)

5.  Arthritis

The soothing warmth and buoyancy of the water in a properly designed spa can help relieve arthritis pain.

6.  Circulation problems

Heat from hot tubs can cause the blood vessels to open up (called vasodilation), which decrease blood pressure. The heat and massage ease blood flow and improve circulation, in addition to stimulating nerve impulses that boost the immune system and digestion.

7.  Fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome

The warm water may alleviate constant all-over body aches, particularly if you do some light stretches while you soak.

8.  Muscle aches

Soak at a temperature between 102 to 106 degree F to loosen  tight, tense muscles.

9. Insomnia

Studies suggest that spending 15 minutes in a hot tub 90 minutes before bedtime can lead to an improved night's sleep.

10. Migraines

The jets in a hot tub dilate blood vessels to help prevent headaches.

11. Type 2 Diabetes

Soaking up to 30 minutes a day, six days a week for at least three weeks is known to help individuals with type 2 diabetes lower their blood sugar, lose weight and improve their sleep patterns.

12. Stress

Warm water massage stimulates your body to release endorphins that reduce stress naturally.

Risks of Using Hot Tub Spas

If you have a recurrent or persistent health challenge, always consult with your doctor before determining whether hydrotherapy is for you.

• According to the American Heart Association, people with high blood pressure or abnormally low blood pressure should check with their doctor before using a hot tub.
• People with diabetes also need to be cautious, as they may be more susceptible to get burns on their feet due to nerve damage caused by diabetes.
• If you have diabetes, you may not notice a drop in your blood sugar while you’re in a hot tub, so leave the hot tub gradually to ensure you don’t pass out.
• Hot tubs are generally not recommended for people with multiple sclerosis or women who are pregnant.
• Elderly people and young children should avoid long soaks in a hot tub, as the heat can quickly exhaust them.

Related Articles

1. Livestrong.com
   
2. Affordable Hydrotherapy: Clearwater Spas XS Series
3. Experience Color and Light Therapy in Your Hot Tub Spa

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