Explore Color

Sherwin-Williams celebrates individualism through its thoughtfully-selected colormix™ 2011 collection. Whether our client's passion is a love of antique maps, a fascination with 3D animation, or a collection of batik-patterned dresses, the professionals at Sherwin-Williams can help clients to embrace their passions and use them to guide a project’s decorating direction. The 39 colors selected by Sherwin-Williams color experts for colormix 2011 are grouped into four palettes: Purely Refined, Bold Invention, Restless Nomad, and Gentle Medley.

Keep Rooms Looking and Smelling Fresh

Sherwin-Williams has enhanced its ever popular, zero-VOC* Harmony product with a formula that offers improved application, better hide, and new odor-eliminating technology that actually reduces odors in the air, keeping rooms smelling fresher longer. The length of time for which Harmony actively reduces odors depends on the concentration of the odors, the frequency of exposure, and the amount of surface area being painted. Harmony also withstands frequent washings and resists mildew on the paint film with an antimicrobial agent.

At the 2011 International Builders' Show, Kohler introduced a number of new products to meet the consumer demand for increased functionality, simplified aesthetics, and water conservation. Some of the product lines featured this year included Karbon, Loure, and Stance faucet collections. These collections are sleek and stylish and can reduce the water consumption by 30% without sacrificing performance. This year Kohler also featured a digital thermostatic showering system.  The DTV II uses a one-piece interface design that provides convenient control of the menu-based navigation system, allowing the user to program the shower's water temperature, spray settings, and lighting.

Lutron Electronics Co., Inc., headquartered in Coopersburg, Pennsylvania, designs and manufactures lighting controls and automated window treatments for residential and commercial applications. Lutron products save energy and make light bulbs last longer, making them an eco-friendly addition to the home and office. Lutron estimates that the installed base of its products saves the nation nearly 10 billion kWh of electricity, or approximately $1 billion in utility costs per year.

According to the U.S. Department of Energy, random air infiltration through gaps and cracks is a leading cause of energy loss in homes, accounting for 25–40% of energy loss in most residential structures. Fortunately, Dow Building Solutions (DBS) has been a leader in building envelope solutions, including air sealing and insulation, for over 60 years. Dow offers the broadest array of solutions for minimizing energy loss and moisture damage caused by air leaks, including FROTH-PAK™ Foam Insulation and Foam Sealant Kits, and GREAT STUFF PRO™ Insulating Foam Sealants and Adhesives. At the International Builders’ Show (IBS) 2011, the DBS booth featured a fun, fascinating, and interactive presentation about GREAT STUFF, which showed how the products work to fill gaps and cracks and how they can help to seal a home, increase energy efficiency, and save money.

With today’s tighter building envelopes, it is imperative that builders and contractors stay up to date on industry standards for ventilation systems in order to ensure good air quality inside the home. Longer duct runs and multiple elbows increase static pressure, which can reduce airflow. ASHRAE (American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers) has set the industry standard for ventilation performance measurement at 0.25" water gauge for airflow. To meet this standard, Panasonic Home & Environment Company has introduced its third-generation WhisperGreen® line of premium ventilation fans.

Duradek has been in the deck and balcony waterproofing industry since 1974. They pioneered the use of PVC membranes as an outdoor walking surface and were the first to have an approved single ply "walk on" roof membrane. Duradek membranes are the primary approved roofing materials on tens of thousands of roof decks throughout North America. From large condominium and townhouse complexes to single-family homes, Duradek is the choice of architects, builders, property managers, and homeowners who appreciate our attention to detail.

What kind of electrical receptacle should you install in the kitchen or bath? The answer is a GFCI outlet, or a ground fault circuit interrupt outlet. A GFCI (or GFI) outlet should be installed in any place where electricity might come in contact with water; such as a kitchen, a bathroom, a laundry room, garage, or exterior space. Basically, a GFCI outlet will sense when electricity is going to pass through a person’s body and it will shut off before the shock is delivered. Installing this type of outlet is only slightly more complex than installing a standard three-pronged receptacle. Join the At Home channel’s host, Jeff Wilson, for a tutorial on how to install a GFCI electrical outlet.

The old saying, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure” couldn’t be truer when it comes to your furnace. Whether you have an oil, gas, or electric furnace, it’s important for your health, safety, and even your home budget, to perform regular checks and maintenance. Join the At Home channel’s host, Jeff Wilson, for a review of some simple tips and tricks to keep your furnace operating safely at its highest efficiency.

A food waste disposer, commonly called a garbage disposal, was invented in 1927. According to the 2009 American Housing Survey (AHS) published by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), over 50% of homes have a garbage disposal. Also, the Study of Life Expectancy of Home Components that was prepared in 2007 by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) suggests that a residential kitchen garbage disposal has an anticipated life expectancy of 12 years. A garbage disposal can be maintained to achieve its full lifetime with proper use, ensuring it is operating efficiently and safely.

If you are thinking about installing new siding on your home, engineered wood siding is becoming a popular choice for residential cladding due to its life expectancy and its ease of use. Although installing engineered wood siding may seem like a complicated project, a few tips and tricks can make it a job many experienced do-it-yourselfers can accomplish. Join the At Home channel’s host, Jeff Wilson, as he describes the benefits of engineered wood siding and demonstrates a few installation tips and techniques.

For those of you who grew up in the ‘70s, wallpaper may conjure memories of obnoxious stripes and florals that made you want to plan a great escape from your vinyl seat at mom’s aluminum breakfast table. I’m going to attempt to replace the outdated misconceptions that may plague your mind when you hear the word “wallpaper” and introduce a new perspective into your psyche: not only are today’s wallcovering options beautiful and environmentally friendly, many can truly be considered an art form.