New kitchen luxuries make entertaining easy

(ARA) - Entertaining at home is the perfect way to spend time with your family and friends, as nothing beats relaxing and enjoying the beautiful summer weather with your guests. Unfortunately, hosting the party has always had one down side -- being stuck in the kitchen cleaning and cooking while others enjoy the festivities.



Now, there is hope for home entertainers. New kitchen innovations provide an easy way to entertain, while adding a gourmet touch to your decor. Spend the evening socializing instead of slaving away in the kitchen.



Luxury meets technology



Every homeowner wants (and deserves) a little luxury in their home, but especially in their kitchen. Appliances are beginning to look and act more luxurious by increasing their functionality through another popular home trend -- technology. Many appliances merge lavish looks with innovation to create the perfect addition for any kitchen. These new smart appliances go beyond their traditional functions, like heating food or keeping it cold. Instead, they perform greater tasks such as collecting recipes, quickly preparing meals and keeping the pantry stocked with automated, electronic lists.



The 36-inch induction hybrid cooktop from Electrolux can really speed up your cooking, which is great for parties, keeping you out of the kitchen and engaged with your guests. You can boil water in just 90 seconds, and its Perfect Set Controls allow you to store up to 25 programmed settings to immediately raise or lower temperatures so cooking can begin at any time -- without waiting or preheating. Just input the specific settings in advance for the dishes you’ll be cooking at your next bash, and you’ll be able to get your last minute prep finished while welcoming your guests.



Appliances once only found in restaurants are now making their way into home kitchens. Ovens and microwaves aren’t the only kitchen appliances that can keep food warm; warming drawers are the newest product to be included in today’s kitchens. Dacor’s Warming Drawers feature an electric touch pad with four different settings and temperatures. This way, you’ll be able to keep all of the dishes you made in advance warm and ready to serve throughout the duration of your soiree. And best of all, the drawers can be custom made to match the rest of the cabinets in your kitchen to ensure a consistent look throughout.



Functional faucets



Kitchens can look and feel sophisticated by making a few simple changes that will easily take the look of your kitchen from average to elegant.



Increase the sophistication of your kitchen by installing a faucet with a design that brings beauty into the small space of the sink. The new Woodmere pulldown faucet from ShowHouse by Moen features a traditional sleek design, making it a great focal point at the sink. As the first traditional pulldown faucet in the ShowHouse portfolio, its high-arc spout and S-shaped handle allow Woodmere to make a bold statement and impress your guests by adding an extra element of elegance to the kitchen. The single-mount design creates less clutter, making it an ideal choice for deluxe countertops, such as granite. Clean-up in and around the sink is also a snap when you’re getting ready for your partygoers to arrive.



Woodmere offers much more than style; it also offers increased functionality that’s ideal for completing any kitchen task. The pulldown wand features three functions: pause, spray and stream. The last thing you want when company arrives is a pile of dirty dishes in your sink from all of your party prep. But the combination of Woodmere’s features and unique, patented pause button makes washing dishes quick and easy so you can avoid the clutter altogether. The faucet is available in three different finishes -- Chrome, LifeShine Classic Stainless and Oil Rubbed Bronze, to coordinate with the rest of your kitchen.



No host or hostess should miss an entertaining event by being trapped in the kitchen to babysit the stovetop or deal with the clean-up that comes with having a party. Instead, by installing luxurious and technologically savvy products, you’ll be sure to have a summer full of easy, elegant entertaining. Who says you can’t have it all?



For more information on the Woodmere pullout kitchen faucet from ShowHouse, visit showhouse.moen.com or call (800) BUY-MOEN (800) 289-6636.



Courtesy of ARAcontent

Mortgage Rates Drop This Week

Interest on 30-year fixed mortgages, 15-year fixed loans, five-year adjustable-rate mortgages, and one-year ARMs all fell this week, according to Freddie Mac.

The average on 30-year financing slipped to 5.2 percent from 5.32 percent a week ago.
The 15-year mortgage declined to 4.69 percent, down from 4.77 percent.
Five-year ARMs were down to 4.82 percent from 4.88 percent.
One-year ARMs fell to 4.82 percent from 4.94 percent.

Source: Los Angeles Times (07/10/09)

© Copyright 2009 Information Inc.

Get more for your money when purchasing replacement windows

(ARA) - Energy efficiency has gained national importance and window replacement is recognized as one pathway to aid in energy independence and the reduction of harmful global emissions.



Choosing replacement windows with energy-saving benefits is simple and the federal government also made it less expensive for homeowners with the signing of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.



The bill includes the opportunity for homeowners to claim a tax credit of 30 percent of the cost of eligible energy-efficient products to a maximum of $1,500 per household for 2009 and 2010 combined when used for remodeling and replacement. According to the IRS, a tax credit is a dollar-for-dollar reduction in your tax liability and can be deducted directly from your taxes owed.



While energy efficient replacement windows are included in this tax credit, not all replacement windows will qualify. Paul Delahunt, president of Renewal by Andersen, says, given the new tax credit, now is the best time to replace your leaky, worn-out windows. But he also cautions homeowners to do their homework to make sure the windows they purchase will qualify.



To qualify, windows must provide high levels of energy efficiency in two categories: reduced heat loss and reduced heat gain. The measurement for heat loss is called U-Factor and the measurement for heat gain is called Solar Heat Gain Coefficient, or SHGC. To meet the performance requirements, the window or door must have both a U-Factor and SHGC rating equal to or less than 0.30 in all climate zones in the U.S.



When comparing windows for energy performance -- and the 2009/2010 tax credit -- be sure to check the National Fenestration Rating Council (NFRC) label that is displayed on the product. This label displays the U-Factor and SHGC ratings for the window or patio door. If the product does not have this label, then the unit does not have a certified NFRC value.



Qualifying replacement windows must be purchased and installed in a primary residence between January 1, 2009 and December 31, 2010. While quality installation is a critical component of any successful window replacement project, installation costs are not included in the 2009/2010 tax credit. Your sales receipt should break out qualifying product costs separately.



In addition to your sales receipt, you will also need to save the NFRC label from each window or the Manufacturer’s Certification Statement with your tax documents.



Renewal by Andersen makes it easy for homeowners to take advantage of the new federal tax credit with its extensive selection of windows and patio doors with glass packages that meet or exceed the performance criteria to be eligible for the credit.

In fact, Delahunt says, virtually all Renewal by Andersen windows with High-Performance Low-E4 SmartSun glass are eligible for the tax credit. These same windows with SmartSun glass are up to 47 percent more energy efficient in winter and up to 70 percent more energy efficient in summer compared to ordinary dual pane glass -- making a big impact on reducing your energy bills.



Courtesy of ARAcontent