19 Years – 19 Bright Ideas

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NW Natural Lighting is celebrating 19 Years as a family owned, local, business with 19 Bright Ideas!

Since we’re in people’s homes BRIGHTENING things up with our product lines; Solatube Daylighting, Retractable Screen Doors, Solar Powered Attic Fans, and Custom Interior & Exterior Railing, we thought why not highlight some of the BRIGHT ideas that we see that can help ANY home! So here goes 19 Years – 19 BRIGHT Ideas! You may even see some future more in-depth posts on these topics too!

1) Paint – Bright, happy colors make for a bright, happy house! If you prefer the darker tones pick and accent wall and make a room come alive! Need a place to start? Check out Design Your Own Room by Benjamin Moore!

2) Accessories – Throw pillows, table clothes, new drapes? Add a pop of color, choose an item that speaks to you and makes you smile

3) Flowers - They make everything better! A sprig from your garden, a bunch from a farmers market, these bright blooms will lift your mood and add some happy to any space! Need some inspiration, hop on Pinterest.

4) Mirrors – Reflect some light, make the rooms feel bigger, done & done!

5) Natural Light – Skylight, Tubular Skylight, Windows, all have their place, the more natural light the better! We might be partial to Solatubes :) how could we not!

6) Photos/Pictures – They may be worth a thousand words and those smiling faces might just bring a smile to your face.

7) Yard Art – Anything that adds a touch of whimsy to your yard and color to your landscape will brighten your view.

8) Solar Power – Panels on your roof? Solar powered attic fan? Little lights down your driveway? So many options!

9) Edible Plants – Need some fresh Basil? Mint anyone? Having a box of fresh herbs that you can pull from with freshen up any dish!

10) Railing – Safety AND design. You can make or break ANY space with design elements and keeping your home safe is always a top priority. Deck railing, pool railing, interior, or exterior; show off your style and your view with a fun and functional option.

11) A Welcome Door – Pick a bright color, sidelights, glass, or a fun door-knocker. You will feel more welcomed into your home and so will your guests!

12) Turn the Music Up – Speakers are not tied down any more! Bring the music outside, bring music to every room in your home! Listening to an upbeat song will brighten your mood and make whatever task you are doing just a little more fun!

14) Flooring – Wood, carpet, tile, slate, marble, pick one or pick a combination of several to liven up your space!

15) Reuse/Repurpose – Using this for that can both bring something old back to life and can keep it out of a landfill. Take shabby to sheak with a fresh coat of paint too! BUY local too! Check out Second Use in Ballard.

16) Outdoor Entertaining Space – It’s another space where people can gather and you can make it as cozy as if you were sitting in your living room!

17) Window Treatments – A finishing touch to any window, let the light in and then give it some style with treatments in every shade.

18) Retractable Screens – Keep cool, keep your view, you can have it all! French doors, single doors, sliders, they are custom fit for YOUR space.

19) Feng Shui – Bring balance, peace, and harmony check out these great ideas to make your home a space that has it all! Read more here!

There it is 19 Bright Ideas from our 19 Years of experience. Stay tuned in to our blog for more ideas and updates on the products that we offer!

NW Green Home Tour “Grows” Again!

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NW Green Home Tour “Grows” again!

 The third NW Green Home Tour is officially wrapped up and judging by chats with a few of the hosts on the tour; a great success. Thank you so much to our partners who showcased the Solatubes in their homes! Jim Bristow on the tour said, “It was very gray outside, so it (the Solatube) showed of its ability to bring a lot of light on one of our typical Seattle days!” That’s the great thing about clouds, they bounce light around quite uniformly and we’re pleased to have so many people witness that you don’t have to have sunshine to brighten a room with a Solatube.
 
Thank you also to those who wandered through both the homes and the sustainability stops. We would love to get some feedback from you on our Facebook page. What did you think was really cool or helpful?
 
Some hosts on the tour saw as many as 200+ people wander through to learn about saving energy with the latest technology and innovative ideas. As this was our first year with our Edmonds showroom as a stop, we were thrilled to have everyone in the free morning DIY class take home a Solatube kit. Joel, our installer of 5+ years obviously did a great job teaching! See our winners of our drawings with their Trader Joe Bags loaded with organic treats on our Facebook page, who doesn’t like free food!?
 
I can easily see this event continue to grow each year as eco-friendly ideas become more and more sophisticated. It does help to have clusters of stops, so to our partners, let’s think about that for next year to maximize appeal and convenience for our visitors.
Cheers to another great year!
Dawn McMillion - Product Consultant & Sales

The Northwest Green Home Tour is HERE!

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2013_NWGHT_WebPromo_250x250The Northwest Green Home Tour is THIS SATURDAY! Each year I’m surprised by the ingenuity, creativity and resourcefulness of the architects, remodelers and builders featuring their brilliance in the Northwest Green Home Tour! This is the third year for this fun FREE annual event and it truly has something for everyone with 26 homes and businesses to visit! Did you know you can “collect” enough rainwater to use for your garden but have plenty left over to shower in, cook with and drink?! An off-the-grid independent water supply is the goal of Bristow Enterprises at Site # N02 on the tour. He’s working with a company that has already performed this feat in about four hundred homes!
 
You are sure to gather ideas and useful information from the simple and practical (like it really is not a good idea to plant those Tomato plants right next to a home slathered in lead paint) to getting useful information about Solar, Urban Farming (Check out the Chicken Coop at Site # SW07) to “green – literally growing roofs”, and incorporating recycled materials of all kinds. After visiting the Green Home Solutions – Sustainability Stop #S01, I was really impressed with the beauty of the latest in recycled materials; many colors and textures of tile, beautiful cabinetry and an array of countertops. The offerings have come a long way from the original olive green and brown recycled carpet squares and low VOC paint!
 
The best part about the Northwest Green Home Tour is many of the owners of these sites have been enjoying the energy-saving and eco-friendly improvements for years because they’ve tried them out in their own homes. This means that YOU get the specifics on what truly works best and the ever-popular question; What did it cost?
 
Tips to see what is most important to you:
Take advantage of the icons listed near each site. Depending upon what you’re most interested in, you’ll find 11 possible icons from urban farming to Solar, water conservation to indoor air quality and more. And this is the first year that the Northwest Eco Building Guild has teamed up with Built Green. So you can look for the Built Green logo and tour entire custom built homes that have been rated built green for some beefy energy efficiency throughout.
 
One more tip, I was really excited to learn that in addition to our Solatubes being featured at the Mighty House Site #SW03, I just learned last night that you can also see Solatubes at site #SW07 and site #N02. So come visit our showroom to see four Solatubes in action, our Solar Powered attic van and our retractable Screen doors. Or if you run short on time, see the Solatubes in any of these other three locations!
 
Cheers to a great home tour!
Dawn McMillion - Product Consultant & Sales

Custom Retractable Screens, yep we install those too!

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Don’t let the name fool you… We are your go to for Custom Retractable Screens! The Mirage Retractable Screen Door! NW Natural Lighting has carried the Mirage product line for 15 years and have expert installers that bring breezes in while keeping bugs out every day. The Mirage is durable, low-profile, and just what you need when you’re looking to screen a Single door, French doors, or a slider. Check out our youtube video to see Dawn demonstrating the screen in our showroom.

Earth Day Reflections

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Earth Day Reflection… “Earth Day” began as an unhappy observation by just one man. US senator, Gaylord Neslon witnessed the Santa Barbara Oil Spill off the coast of California in 1969 and decided that more needed to be done to rally people from all walks of life in protecting and preserving the environment. What began as a movement across the United States has grown to 141 countries across our planet!

If you would like to “take part” in an activity either the weekend before the Official day on April 22 or the weekend after, here are some fun things to do in Western Washington;

http://seattle.about.com/od/holidays/a/Seattle-Earth-Day-2013.htm

Did you already plan on doing anything special for Earth Day? Or are you taking our clean air and great water quality in the Pacific Northwest for granted?  I don’t mean to sound “soap-boxy” but I am trying to get your attention because I admit, I often look around and see all our tall trees and sparkling waterways and feel pretty good about our beautiful evergreen state. I do my part but I know I could do more.

Looking “outside” my own little world has made me think more seriously about the health of our planet. The first time I thought more pointedly about what I could do to help was when I saw a HUGE bunch of plastic bags walking ‘round a corner from me at a home show. It was the “Bag Man” who has since been spotted at hundreds of events to remind us that plastic doesn’t break down. It ends up in all kinds of places that can be harmful in a variety of ways. This is when I also learned there’s an ISLAND of plastic stuff floating in The Pacific! http://education.nationalgeographic.com/education/encyclopedia/great-pacific-garbage-patch/?ar_a=1 shows how devastating plastic pieces and parts can be on our marine life.

It’s pretty simple. When we don’t take care of our environment, there can be alarming consequences.

Not long ago on the radio my favorite on-air team on KZOK was talking about a burn ban in effect here in WA because the air quality was bad; An Air Pollution Index of 50. So no burning – outside or in. The guys joked about the super high levels of pollution in China. “What was the level today over in Hong Kong?!” they joked, “800?” Seeing residents of China on walking with masks over their faces is not an uncommon sight now. Apparently, even though the government in China has made huge strides in trying to get their air quality back on track, 3,000 people still die prematurely each year from poor air quality. Learn how far they still have to go; http://www.businessweek.com/news/2012-12-19/hong-kong-will-ban-high-polluting-vehicles-in-bid-to-fight-smog .

At least here in the Pacific Northwest, we have a natural leg up in keeping our environment safe, clean and pristine. The exact extent of damage to different parts of our planet is hard to understand or fathom unless you have visited these areas and seen the changes with your own eyes. Many discussions on how to protect the environment (like Global Warming) are heated and controversial. Maybe the government doesn’t do enough. Maybe it goes too far. But the bottom line is if we can each do what we can in our own backyard, our work life and day to day activities, it sure can’t hurt. It can only help.

Hey! If you’re interested in how your HOME can be more energy efficient and “green”, keep your Saturday clear on 4/27/13. Come see us at the Green Home Tour. We’ll have two installed Solatubes at the Madrona Bungalow Remodel, Site #SW03 and our Edmonds Showroom is a Sustainability Stop #06 just two minutes north of Hwy 104 and just west of Hwy 99. Stop by the local Country Farms Outdoor Produce Stand while you’re in the area!

 

How New Home Construction affects YOUR Wallet

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How new home construction affects your wallet…

New Home Construction… all signs point to promising growth through 2015! I was at a recent event sponsored by the Master Builders of King and Snohomish County (MBA) and was pleased and relieved to see chart after chart, graph after graph of specific signs of growth in our region’s new home development. Why the activity these last six months after years of stagnation? Primarily because the Federal Government has promised to keep interest rates low – this lets developers and big builders take action; borrow and build.

What does that mean for you? When home builders begin building, home values tick up — including yours. This motivates buyers to think about buying. When they DO buy, they also tend to spend in their local communities sprucing up their new digs. This kind of spending boosts confidence of local business owners who hire more and offer better wages (hopefully) for better people.

Here are the specifics: According to New Home Trends a Data Research Consulting Firm (This local firm reports current, relevant statistics to developers, builders and financial institutions in Washington). In Snohomish County, home values are up 20% from last year, King County; 13% and Pierce County; 12%. Monthly sales of homes in the Puget Sound are up 50% from last year! Thank you to Doyle at New Home Trends for sharing this great information. New home building is an important foundation in an upward curve of growth affecting most of us living in Western Washington!

Cheers to a brighter, sunnier year…

Dawn McMillion – Guest Blogger for NWNL

 

Traditions = Love

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Traditions = Love

It may be sunny this Easter weekend! Easter can be such a nice time for family connections and traditions; and with the sun shining — even better! There’s something about giggling children running through soft green grass — a sort of joyful chaos of little feet hurrying to find hidden treasures with baskets spilling over with jelly beans, plastic eggs and foil-wrapped rabbits that puts a smile on your face.

What are your family traditions? Shiny shoes and bows “just so” for church or a special brunch? A favorite dish or treat? Maybe it’s the best way to color Easter eggs? Or better yet; favorite places to hide them?! Both tradition and consistency make us feel grounded and well, simply, loved. It’s because we know we can count on special people in our lives to take a moment and share… maybe listen… hopefully laugh. And in springtime, the love and attention is somehow wrapped in pastels and ribbons, fuzzy animals and a sense of renewal as nature shows signs of tiny buds and colorful blossoms all around us.

The owners of our family-owned company at Northwest Natural Lighting are celebrating a sort of a return to tradition in Edmonds where they grew up, got married and still have their little ones attend school. As a matter of fact we’ll be celebrating 19 years in business in May and our second year in Edmonds since we moved from Lynnwood! So from our family to yours we say, “Happy Easter Everyone!”

Dawn McMillion – Is a guest blogger for NWNL and a longtime lighting specialist.

Spring Cleaning Your Retractable Screen – 5 Tips

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Here are 5 tips for Spring Cleaning your Retractable Screen door to get it ready for the season! As you start getting your home ready for warmer days remember to do a little “Retractable Screen Door Tune-Up.”
  • Vacuum out your screen’s track to get rid of pine needles and debris from autumn and winter.
  • Wipe down the exterior and interior canister and pull bar/handle with a damp cloth, this make your door look shiny and new.
  • Use a silicon spray to make sure that your roller is working easily and pulling the mesh across smoothly. (Use a silicon spray NOT WD40.)
  • Think about other locations in your home that you might want a retractable screen to keep bugs out and fresh breezes coming!

Questions? Other ideas to help get your home ready for Spring?

Comment here or e-mail us! We’d LOVE to hear from you!

Submitted by Hillary Klauber

Hillary is a guest writer for NWNL and a marketing assistant for the company. She enjoys spending time with her young daughter, stroller walks, and fun in the sun!

Invite Daylight Savings Indoors! Don’t Fall Back!

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Ahhh longer days and brighter evenings are right around the corner. Don’t forget to “spring forward” Saturday night. Most of the time, additional hours of daylight from Daylight Savings can make the inside of your home brighter too, but not always. You may enjoy a sunlit, beautiful day outside then enter your home and find areas that are STILL dark and dreary. This could happen easily if you have any of the following structural “Light Blockers”. Short of spending lots of “green” on a major renovation, renting a bulldozer or flat out moving to another home, you have only one solution and sometimes the BEST solution; a skylight! Ask yourself these questions to see if you’re a candidate. No falling back into darkness for YOU!

Does MY home …..

  • Sit below street level?
  • Have light blocked by a hill or neighboring home or building?
  • Have a covered porch, carport or patio area?
  • Have ANY windowless room?
  • Have just one story and spread out more than 1,000 square feet? (Central areas in your home will often lack daylight.)
  • Have tall trees west or south of your home?
  • Have dark rooms with windows facing north or east?
  • Have Wide roof overhangs (common with low pitched or flat roofs)?
  • Have a new Addition? A guaranteed “light blocker” to the adjacent “older” areas.

If you said yes to any of the above, that daylight just cannot spring into your home unless you invite it in. And because the light is blocked by outside structures even windows may not help. But light from a skylight in your roof can. Having a brighter home will certainly put a spring in your step. A nice side benefit? A beautiful bouquet of spring flowers will look fantastic in all that natural daylight!

~Dawn McMillion – NW Natural Lighting

 

Oz, Prisoners, patients, and Hamsters, Oh My!

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The new movie “Oz the Great and Powerful” is coming out this week. The great Wizard of Oz can do many things, through illusion, misdirection, and magic. Here in our world, we don’t have the powerful Oz to help us, but we do have gifts that Mother Nature provides; food, water, oxygen, and… daylight are vital for our happiness and survival! We often overlook the fact that daylight light is JUST AS important as the other items on the list. Imagine how all living things would be affected if our sun magically vanished!

So lions tigers and bears need daylight as well as prison inmates, post operative patients and hamsters! Read how they all benefit with more daylight, and how they suffer from lack of it (and much, much more) in a 58-page report by the U.S. Department of Energy. Daylight affects our mood, focus, energy and yes, even our health. Get more OF it!

Dawn McMillion (Dawn is a Daylighting Specialist for NWNL and guest writer for the NWNL Blog. She enjoys gardening, travel, Italian food, and being out in the sunshine with her dog, Chester.