Article Review of "What's New In HPL."

I recently read the article "What's New in HPL" in the Surface and Panel Q3 2013 Magazine. This was a great review of the new innovative products that the different High Pressure Laminate companies are now making for commerical and some small residential applications.

Here are the different companies and what's new with them:

Arborite Ink at www.arborite.com/us has custom patterns from leading designers

Laminati at www.laminati-usa.com has come up with a laminate for architects and desginers that matches all indoor elemnets in order to save tiem and effort with specifying laminate.

Advanced Technology at www.advtechnology.com has two new NuMetal designs made of a thin metal surface and phenolic paper backing that are both for vertical and light duty horiztontal applications.

Abet Laminati at www.abetlaminati.com has Swarovski Elements and designs infused in their HPL.

Wilsonart at www.wilsonart.com has reshaped the entire supply chain for its paper source, which is 70% of its HPL Product line and is committed to sustainability.

Arpa HPL at www.arpaindustriale.com has a new innovative HPL line that inhibits growth of bacteria across the whole surface.

Greenlam at www.greenlam.com/us offers eco-friendly laminates from India. They use an array of innovative and super flexible veneers on kraft paper for their Veneer Laminate collection.

Lamitech at www.lamitech.com now offers Big Scale Granites in HPL. They are available in sheet size of 5x8, 5x12, and 4x8. All laminates are low VOC emissions and Greenguard certified.

Formica at www.formica.com/en-US was the original inventor of HPL 100 years ago. They have introduced a colorful and graphic Anniversary Collection. These patterns result in the fluidity of overlapping elements that repeat for 500 to 700 sheets, or approximately 1.3 miles.

Chemetal at www.ialaminates.com introduces 4 new HPL's that include textured and high gloss wood looks with exceptional design.

Article Review of "Tips on Lighting a Room Well"

I recently was reading my local newspaper the Muscatine Journal and I came across a great article on September 7 in the Home & Garden section titled "Tips on Lighting a Room Well."  This article was a great how to lesson for anyone looking to add more lighting to their home or a particular room.  It was sectioned out into advice in these catagories: Overhead and Eye-level , Go Retro, Forget Old Rules, Lighting as Art, and Better Bulbs.

Each section gave some great little tidbits of information that are useful in everyday applications.  Some of my favorite tips from the article are:

• Have overhead lights installed if your room has none
• Group different styles of lights in a romantic or whimsical setting
• Use chandeliers in other places than the dining room....like a bathroom
• Use the right type of bulb for the right room

I encourage you to look up this article online.  Here are a few lights and lamps and sconces that I find particularly great! 

A great use of wall sconces in a small powder room!

 

 

 

A unique lamp and overhead light for an eclectic living room.

 

 

This boys bedroom really has the surf and beachy feel with the orb light that cast shadows that look like sand dollars on the ceiling and walls.

 

 

These gold wall sconces really set the tone of the room as they are emphasized by the mirrored panels behind them.  Very dramatic effect for a small space.