Rich's for the Home

Tour America’s Premiere Hearth Products Factory in Mukilteo Oct 24 and 27

You are cordially invited to a free factory tour -- exclusively for Rich's customers -- of Travis Industries House of Fire, home of Lopi, Avalon, and Fireplace Xtrordinair (FPX) hearth products.

Keep reading for complete tour details!

Tour Dates:

Monday, Oct 24, 2011
Thursday, Oct 27, 2011

Time:

9:30-11:30, with lunch provided free-of-charge after the tour in the factory showwoom

Location:

Travis Industries – House of Fire
4800 Harbour Pointe Blvd. SW
Mukilteo, WA 98275

Phone:  425-609-2500

Directions:

From I-405 North:  I-405 changes into SR-525, then turns into Mukilteo Speedway. Continue North, then turn left on Harbour Pointe Blvd SW. Heading West now, pass through two stoplights and get into the left-hand turn lane. Turn left on Blue Heron Road and follow the “Fireplace Factory Tour” signs.

From I-5 North: Exit #182 to Mukilteo, merge onto SR-525 then turns into Mukilteo Speedway. Continue North, then turn left on Harbour Pointe Blvd SW. Heading West now, pass through two stoplights and get into the left-hand turn lane. Turn left on Blue Heron Road and follow the “Fireplace Factory Tour” signs.

From I-5 South: Exit #189 to Mukilteo on Hwy 526 that eventually turns into Paine Field Blvd. Turn Left on Mukilteo Speedway, then Right on Harbour Pointe Blvd SW. Heading West now, pass through two stoplights and get into the left-hand turn lane. Turn left on Blue Heron Road and follow the “Fireplace Factory Tour” signs.

Details:

During this amazing tour of Travis Industries’ 11-acre manufacturing facility, you’ll get up-close-and-personal with 11 assembly lines, where you can watch stoves being built from start-to-finish.
Here are some articles from our blog that will give you a “virtual” tour of the Travis Industries tour:

1. Meet the Founder of Lopi Stoves This Weekend at Rich's Lynnwood Store
2. Take This Hot Factory Tour – You Won’t Regret It
3. Travis House of Fire Factory Tour Gets Rave Reviews from Rich's Customers
4. A Man Who Loves Fire: Kurt Rumens, Founder of Lopi Stoves

What You Need to Know Before the Tour:

1. People over age 8 are welcome to take the tour.
2. Closed-toe shoes (NO sandals) are required.
3. Cameras or cellular phones are not permitted during the tour.
4. Because of the fact that you will be touring a working manufacturing factory, you may not bring backpacks, purses, fanny packs, or other containers except by special request (e.g. medical reasons).
5. There are no holding facilities onsite for personal belongings, so please secure them in your locked vehicle.

Questions?

Talk with a sales associate at any Rich's showroom in Lynnwood, Bellevue, Southcenter, Tacoma, or Silverdale. 

  ‘Like’ Rich’s on Facebook

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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

Factory Direct Lopi and Avalon Fireplace Sale Through Sunday

Visit Rich's Factory Direct Lopi and Avalon fireplace sale. For four days only, you'll find huge savings on the Northwest’s largest selection of gas, wood, and pellet stoves and inserts. Payments from $29; 5-day installation.

While you're shopping our Factory Direct sale, you can meet the man who created the very stoves we display in our showroom! Kurt Rumens, founder of Lopi Stoves and president of Travis Industries, will be at Rich’s Lynnwood store Saturday, October 22 and Sunday, October 23 from noon to 3 PM. Click this link to learn more about Kurt's visit.

The Factory Direct sale ends Sunday, October 23, 2011, at all five Rich’s locations in Lynnwood, Bellevue, Southcenter, Tacoma, and Silverdale, WA.

  ‘Like’ Rich’s on Facebook

We 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.

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

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

Meet the Founder of Lopi Stoves at Rich’s This Weekend

Thirty-one years ago, a young rock ‘n roll drummer named Kurt Rumens began selling wood stoves so he could pay for gas to drive his band to gigs.

Kurt examined the stoves he was selling and thought, “These stoves need heavier steel. They need to burn more efficiently. And they need to be prettier.”

He decided to do something about it. Kurt and his friend, Dick Miller founded their own stove company, Lopi Stoves, in the garage of Kurt’s Bellevue home.

Today, as president of Travis Industries, Kurt is still actively involved in the design and production of every Lopi Stove. Along with the Lopi brand, Travis Industries manufactures three additional brands: Avalon, Fireplace Xtrordinair,  and Tempest Torch Gas Lamps.

   

This coming weekend, you have the opportunity to meet this vibrant man who truly loves creating wood, pellet, and gas stoves, fireplaces, and fireplace inserts. Kurt will be at Rich’s Lynnwood store Saturday, October 22 and Sunday, October 23 from noon to 3 PM. He’ll be talking about breakthrough technologies in stoves and sharing other interesting and fun facts about stoves.

Factory Direct Sale

Rich’s is also hosting a factory direct sale this week, featuring products manufactured at Travis Industries. Contact a sales associate at any of Rich's 5 Puget Sound showrooms in Lynnwood, Bellevue, Tacoma, Southcenter, and Silverdale for details about the sale.

Travis House of Fire Tour

In addition to meeting Kurt Rumens at Rich’s, you can tour the Travis Industries factory, a sprawling 11-acre facility in Mukilteo. The House of Fire Factory Tour is free and open to everyone who’s interested (Note: Please no children under the age of 8 years old). Registration is required for tour entry – just ask any Rich’s sales associate to help you register for a tour.

More About Kurt Rumens and Travis Industries

The following posts from our blog will help you get to know Kurt Rumens better, and will give you a preview of what you’ll experience during your tour of Travis Industries.

1. A Man Who Loves Fire: Kurt Rumens, Founder of Lopi Stoves
2. Take This Hot Factory Tour – You Won’t Regret It
3. Travis House of Fire Factory Tour Gets Rave Reviews from Rich's Customers

  ‘Like’ Rich’s on Facebook

We 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.

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

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

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

We 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.

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.

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

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.

Low-cost outdoor room pizzaz

With summer and gathering season in full force, you might decide that it's time to add a bit of pizazz to your outdoor room.

There are simple and inexpensive things that you can do that will add spice, color and comfort to your area. Small actions truly can give your outdoor gathering place a whole new feel and look.

Here are some ideas:

1. Hang paper lanterns. You can find them at Asian-style stores or order them from the Paper Lantern Store. Curious how they are made? I certainly was. It all starts with a wire frame and it takes skills to create the shape that you want. View lantern making here.
2. Add throw pillows to your outdoor furniture. Of course, you will want to bring them inside before any inclement weather hits so wait to add them until the day of your event and keep an eye on the sky. Make sure to match your outdoor palate by choosing the same colors in the pillows.
3. Add vases of fresh flowers or pots of colorful flowers in your outdoor room. Choose pots that match the style of your decor and think about various options for color use. Would it look best to blend colors with what is already used in your outdoor room? Or would the best option be to go with a completely different color splash? Don't be afraid to experiment and above all, don't let the flowers die off without replacing them.
4. Add a mat or a few throw rugs around your outdoor room. This changes a look and invites a pause from people. They will know something is different and they will like it--but they may not know what that change is. You will find that adding colorful rugs and mats can accomplish a variety of things, including pulling a room together, adding groupings of furniture, adding colors or even making an area look more cozy.
5. Add outdoor lanterns or Tempest Torches for extra ambiance and light. This will not only brighten up your outdoor room but allow you to visit comfortably even as dusk falls.
6. Have extra room off your porch? Consider adding a home-made fire-pit. A ring can easily be made with some big river rocks.

Simple styles for your outdoor room

As the snow melts and the sun begins to shine, a glimmer of summer appears. The one thing I look forward to the most about the upcoming season is enjoying the outdoors with family and friends. I know that you do too.

From cookouts to parties, there are so many memories to be made out on the patio. In addition to great company, sunsets and fireflies, here are a few more ways to make your patio more welcoming to your guests.

1. Simple- If you want to keep decorating simple, add an outdoor rug to your patio. Find a complimentary tablecloth and brightly colored plates, bowls and cups for the table. If you are entertaining special guests, fill an extra cup with fresh flowers or use a lantern for the centerpiece. If you don’t have outdoor furniture yet, check out Rich’s aluminum patio furniture. It is not only durable and maintenance-free, but on sale this month.
2. Elegant- Give your outdoor patio a touch of elegance with two opposite elements: fire and water. A fountain will be calming, while an outdoor fire pit gives a comforting feeling. On the table, fill a small, clear bowl with sparkling fish tank stones for the centerpiece. Elegant decorations go well with wrought iron furniture.
3. Classic-Nothing brings nostalgia like wind chimes and birdbaths. Have a few planters nearby with flowers to give your patio a classic feel and make a garden sculpture your centerpiece. If you enjoy a classical style, woven and wicker furniture might be right for you.
4. Fun- Give your patio an energetic feeling with colorful string lights and hanging lanterns. Surrounding the patio area with Tempest Torches can add essential lighting and a vivid umbrella can prevent sunburn. And don’t forget—keep a radio nearby to keep the party going!

Spring is Coming!

I’m not sure about that Groundhog. Weren’t we supposed to have more winter? Perhaps I speak too soon but here in the northwest we have had two beautiful days of sunshine! It gets very chilly at night still but in the sun’s rays, warmth is felt. Some bulbs are bursting through in my flower gardens and my family member’s moods are much improved.

 

It puts me in the mood for Spring! I am already looking at my deck and seeing which outdoor furniture I have that will also work for this year. I confess that I have already dragged out a couple of lawn chairs and had a few sitting sessions-although I have yet to fire up the grill for the season. Right now, I am using only “portable” furniture that I can fold up and put away when we have a rainstorm. But soon (I hope) I can re-arrange the patio furniture for the whole season.

 

I want to try out a Tempest Torch this year. And although most of the patio furniture will work well again for this year, I want to make a few additions. Container gardening is one and I will post more on that later this week. We did only one container of plants on the deck last year and I want more this year. I also want to add a couple of side tables to my furniture set from Rich’s for the Home. I am also thinking about hanging planters. Has anyone tried them? I have purchased them for my mom before but have yet to have a few on my own deck.

 

Flowers (and even veggies) can be a wonderful addition to any outdoor room décor. They can be mixed in with the furniture or given their own area-both ideas work.

 

Are you planning your outdoor décor yet? Let’s do it! The sun is out and before you know it, Spring will be sprung! Let me know what you are planning to do!

Tempest Torch Wins 'Best of Show' for Outdoor Products

The Tempest Torch from Travis Industries is the Winner of Best Outdoor Room Furnishing and Winner of Best of Show for all outdoor products at the 2007 Hearth, Patio and BBQ Expo.

This gas-powered outdoor lantern puts the "wow" in your event and even put off some heat. They are a great addition to both low and high profile events and are sure to invite compliments from your guests.

View the video below to see the lanterns in action at a high-profile event and contact your local Rich's for the Home store for pricing information.

Deck Redesign

Ever watch that show on TV? You know-the one where they redecorate an entire room without spending a dime? Instead, they pull decor in from other areas of the home. The results are sometimes amazing and although I am not a professional, I recently saw an outdoor room that seriously needed a redesign.

Here it is before.

And here after.

 

Here are the changes:

• Addition of area rug.
• Covering of table, added place settings, vase and lily.
• Elimination of blue chairs. In spite of several changes, they just didn't work.
• Addition of indoor chairs. They will work for temporary until we can buy a new set from Rich's for the Home.
• Movement of chaise lounge to left corner to create a separate area (hint:great thing to do when you have a piece of furniture that matches but doesn't quite fit with the others)
• Addition of house plant inside current ceramic pot, an antique plant stand, colbalt blue glass accents, fish basket and magazines also in that corner.

As I look back on the picture, an ideal spot to spice it up a little more would be to use an art piece on the wall behind the table.

Also, if it wasn't a redesign with only items already obtained, a few more tall plants in front of the windows and a Tempest Torch from Rich's would add even more.