Croscill returns to opulence, ExCell banks on basic bath - Home Textiles Today

At the New York Market - After a brief and experimental journey into simplified contemporary looks, the Croscill division of ExCell/Croscill/Glenoit has returned to its roots as a design house of rich and opulent bedding, soft window and bath styles."We're again focused on the detailing and embellishment that has always been the backbone of Croscill's look," Daivd North, vp of marketing, told HTT. "We moved away from it for a little while to try some more contemporary, simpler, less ornate looks. But it's what we do best, and retailers have asked us to give them back the Croscill look we've been known for."

As part of the renewed statement, the company shifted its showroom, which is on the 6th floor of 295 Fifth Avenue, to accommodate 19 beds dressed in new Croscill styles, including the silver-and-white Corinthia and the bold black Pomegranate collection, among the many others.The theme translates across to the soft window treatment and bath coordinate categories with equally opulent matching groupings.

"We're using the same philosophy in window and bath in Croscill," North added.In that vein, the company has expanded its offering of free-standing soft window with 42 new lavish looks, all of them displayed in a new section alongside the bedding space.Also new to Croscill this market: the addition of kitchen textiles to its line. As is the case in its core categories, these goods are devoid of basic looks. Instead, all of the pieces - kitchen towels, dishcloths, oven mitts and pot holders - are embellished and/or embroidered terry cloth. Designs span every day to seasonal.

On the ExCell side, the company has created a new utility bath accessory collections that take the business into new categories, including shower shelving and caddies, fabric storage caddies and laundry baskets.Glenoit, the company's rug division, is spotlighting its new Kitchen Kashmere collection of super-soft kitchen accent rugs. "An off-shoot of the comfort kitchen mat," explained Debbie Powell, vp of merchandising, these synthetic Kitchen Kashmere rugs take their touch-and-feel cues from the trendy and soft micro-fiber kitchen towels popular in the marketplace.

Shopatron is the world's leading provider of global eCommerce for consumer goods. With Shopatron, orders placed on branded websites are offered to a managed network of global partners for fulfillment, typically for assignment to local retailers.... more

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Jan Zimmer: Think spring! Freshen up tired home interior - Port Huron Times Herald

Still have the winter blahs?That teaser of springlike weather a short while ago has some people looking for quick ideas to spruce up their interiors.Redecorating, or changing things up a bit, is a great way to chase away the winter blues.Here are some quick changes that can make a big difference.? First, take an inventory of what you already have.

Assess where to spend your time, energy and -- most importantly -- your money.Decide what are keepers and what needs to go.If you decide to buy some items, start shopping now.It's a good idea to bring measurements and pictures of the room in question when you shop.? If your sofa is in good shape, you can change the look without reupholstering or adding a new slipcover.

Simply replace the back cushions with oversized 26-inch square pillows. Stuffed with down, they can soften the boxy shape and add pattern, color and texture to your room.A new throw pillow or two also can complete the look of the room.? Speaking of furniture, switch furniture from other rooms for a different mix.Bring your favorite piece of outdoor furniture indoors. Replace your coffee table with two ceramic Chinese garden seats or a big ottoman, with room for everything -- and your feet, too.

Add sitting areas with a loveseat and ottoman in the bedroom. A long bench-type stool at the end of the bed adds a polished look.Replace an existing night stand with an affordable round table with a to-the-floor tablecloth, and you gain additional storage space underneath.? Soften your bath's utilitarian feel by adding a comfortable stool, small slipper chair or metal garden chair for seating. Or any of those pieces could double as a table.

Get rid of the boring bath mat and replace it with an area rug for more color and pattern. There are many indoor-outdoor rugs in interesting patterns and colors that can be used. In fact, a rug will hold up just fine.New mirrors can make the biggest change in the look of a bathroom by changing the reflection and maximizing the light.

Or how about changing the light fixture to something more dramatic, perhaps a chandelier? Updating lighting is a great way to breathe new life into a room.Now, get cracking on those changes before the weather becomes so nice it draws you outdoors.

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Making Your Home Safer For Your Loved One With Dementia - Senior Housing News

If you have a loved one living with you who has a diagnosis of some type of dementia, such as Alzheimer’s, you must take steps to ensure their safety in your home.  You will be challenged every day in ways you never dreamed possible, and your goal will be to keep that loved one safe from harm in your home.  That is much more easily said than done, and I would like to offer some important tips for you to consider:

Even if this person has lived in this home for many, many years, they will eventually forget that fact, and attempt to leave to “go home” to a home they remember when they were young.  They will have vision changes such as loss of peripheral vision as well as depth perception, so that means all stairs should be blocked off because they will not be able to see them.  Even if they’re quite used to using those stairs, the vision changes and the brain damage will not allow them to really “see” them and they will fall up, or down, them.  Don’t wait for a fall to occur, block the stairs off well before an accident happens.  Usually, baby or pet gates are effective deterrents.

One of the most important safety measurements you can take is to install extra locks on all exit doors.  You really have no idea when this person will awaken at 3 a.m. and wonder where they are and attempt to “go home” to a home they are remembering when they were 20 years old.   Sometimes it can be as simple as putting those small deadbolt locks up high, or down near the floor, on the doors.  People with dementia will not usually look up or down, they will just know the door won’t open.  If you’ve recently moved a parent into your home, realize they will not remember they now live there and will be at very high risk for leaving to “go home.”   Sometimes, simply placing a black mat in front of the door will prevent them from going out because they may see only a “hole” and won’t step on it—but you need to know if that’s the case with your loved one.  You need to know if they see the “hole” or the mat.

Throw rugs in the home are a true hazard to anyone with dementia because they begin to shuffle their feet and walk with a different gait.  Falls are a part of dementia, and any throw rug will greatly increase their chances of falling.  Again, the changes in vision will also not allow them to properly judge how to navigate on rugs.   Remove all rugs, especially the ones in the bathrooms.  It’s okay to use a non-slip bath mat when they are taking a bath or shower, but remember to pick it up when finished.

Take a walk through your home and note any glass-topped furniture.  You should think about replacing those items because when a fall occurs, you don’t want to have glass involved.  People with dementia also drop items, or even decide to sit on things that weren’t meant to be used as a seat, and that could lead to serious injuries.

Install a kill switch on the stove and oven, or remove the knobs so they can’t be turned on.  People with dementia will try to live their lives as they always have, and that includes using the kitchen.  They don’t remember they are so forgetful, so the kitchen becomes a hazard for fires.  Also, consider “child-proofing” the kitchen drawers/cupboards containing knives and hazardous chemicals.  It can be much like having a very tall three-year-old child living with you.  You must think ahead to what items could be dangerous for them, and anything that would be dangerous to a child, will also be a danger to any person with any type of dementia.

You may need to install a lock on the medicine cabinet to prevent this loved one from using medications or lotions inappropriately.  I know of elders who drink mouthwash, or shake medicine tablets on their food like candy sprinkles.  You just have no idea what may be going through their damaged brains, so remove the possibility of something like this happening by locking these items away.

There are many things you can do to make your home safer for your loved one with dementia, and these are just a few of the most important things to consider.  I discuss many more aspects of safety in the home throughout my book entitled “Love, Laughter, & Mayhem –  Caregiver Survival Manual For Living With A Person With Dementia.”   Your loved one with dementia can safely live in your home with you if you’re prepared for those changes in their thinking and their ability to function. I hope you will be proactive with your changes and make them before an accident occurs.

Cindy Keith, RN, BS, CDP

Cindy is a Certified Dementia Practitioner and author and can be reached at www.mindinmemorycare.com or keithc@mindinmemorycare.com

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Mohawk Home launches website, rolls out QR apps to company-branded products - Home Textiles Today

At the New York Market - Mohawk Home this week is live with its new website as well as a bevy of new high-tech initiatives that include a new QR - or Quick Response - as well as heavy focus on social media.

At the heart of the effort is the newly revamped site - www.mohawkhome.com - which features on its launching page a message from divisional president Bill Kilbride as well as several informational tabs - Company, Products, Retailers, Customers and Greenworks.

While users cannot purchase company products - area and accent rugs, indoor and outdoor mats, and washable bath rugs - directly from the site, Mohawk Home marketing specialist Jennifer Palmer said they can select the retailer tab and from there link to any of nine stores - Anna's Linens, Bed Bath & Beyond, The Home Depot, Kohl's, Lowe's Menards, Sears, Target and Walmart - all of which carry Mohawk Home-branded products, and be sent "to [each retailer's] Mohawk Home launching page where our consumers can link to live product for purchase."

From the site, shoppers can also download two PDF files with answers to their most frequently asked questions related to "Care and Cleaning" and "What's the right size rug?"

Customers can also interact live with Mohawk via its many social media pages, including Facebook, Myspace, Twitter, Friendster and others.

Another way to access this information or shop for Mohawk product is via its new QR apps, which are rolling out to all product labels for easy downloading from mobile devices.

"We're embracing social media and mobile marketing because of its importance today," explained Jeffrey Seagle, director of marketing and product merchandising.

He described the QR app as "a silent salesperson" that provides consumers with a broad range of product-related information, and "the beauty of it is that we can track it and learn how people use it and how we can better help them."

Shopatron is the world's leading provider of global eCommerce for consumer goods. With Shopatron, orders placed on branded websites are offered to a managed network of global partners for fulfillment, typically for assignment to local retailers.... more

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Reduce the risk factors for slips and falls - North Island Midweek

Everyone has had a slip, fall or stumble at some point. For most of us it happens infrequently, and usually doesn’t result in any sort of injury. However, as we grow older we are increasingly at risk for having a fall. With the risk of increased falls comes an increased risk of injury.

There are many different factors that can increase the risk of falling. Most risks for falling can be classified into two main categories. Personal risk factors for falls are those that have to do with the person who is at risk for falls. As we age, our bodies change. Problems with eyesight or balance, loss of muscle and bone strength, chronic illnesses and increased use of certain medications, are all factors that may increase someone’s risk of falling. Certain behaviours and lifestyle choices can also contribute to someone’s risk of falling. Rushing, not paying attention, or taking unnecessary risks are all examples of behavioural risk factors. Being physically inactive, having a diet that is not well balanced, and improper footwear can also increase the risk of falling.

Luckily most of the risk factors listed above can be changed to reduce the risk of falling. Specific exercises prescribed by a physiotherapist can help to rebuild strength, balance, co-ordination and endurance.Community programs like Tai Chi or yoga are excellent for staying in shape and working on core strength and balance.Getting a doctor to review medication, and ensure that it is not causing problems with balance or co-ordination can help prevent falls. Taking the time to do things properly, being physically active and eating a proper diet are all fairly simple things that can greatly reduce the risk of having a fall.

The second category of risk for falls is indoor and outdoor environments. Conditions inside the home and in buildings in the community can increase the risk of falling. Potential hazards include bathtubs without grab bars or non-slip surfaces; scatter mats that are not well secured to the floor; electrical or telephone cords in walking areas; and stairs with poor lighting, no handrails, or uneven steps.There are also many strategies that can be used to reduce these risks as well.

Slippery surfaces can be made safer by using non-slip waxes; taking throw rugs out and putting non-slip mats in the bath and shower and other wet surfaces, removing obstructions and clutter, making sure there is adequate lighting and using nightlights in the bedroom or hallway are all simple ways to decrease the risk of falls.When these strategies are no longer enough, walking aides such as a cane or a walker may need to be considered to further reduce the risk of falling.

Outdoor hazards include: poor lighting, broken sidewalks, badly designed or poorly marked stairs, and poor snow or ice removal. These factors are somewhat harder to control. In most cases it is simply a matter of using good judgement to decide whether a particular outdoor environment is safe and avoiding any situations where the risk of having a fall is high.Usually the most effective way to prevent falls is to use a combination of all of the solutions mentioned above.

If you or someone you know is at risk of falling, talk to your family doctor, go and see a physiotherapist to get proper exercises to improve strength and balance, and make some simple modifications in the home to make it safe.Ben Chatterson is a physiotherapist at Rehabilitation in Motion which has four Island locations including two in Campbell River: Willow Point, 923-3773; Quinsam (across from SaveOn Foods), 286-9670; Comox Valley, 334-9670; Port Alberni; 723-9675. Ben Chatterson works at the Comox Valley Clinic. Visit www.rehabinmotion.com

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CREATE YOUR PERFECT BATHROOM

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Susan R. Pollack Welcome Mat - The Detroit News

More than 20 Passover "tablescapes" by Metro Detroit interior designers, home d?cor mavens and entrepreneurs will star in the Passover Table, from 6-8:30 p.m. Thursday at Temple Beth El in Bloomfield Hills. A fundraiser for the temple's religious school, the second annual event offers table-setting ideas and dramatic artistic interpretations of Passover in advance of the Jewish holiday, which starts April 19 this year. Each table will incorporate traditional symbols of Passover, such as the Seder plate and Elijah's cup. While viewing the tablescapes, guests will be served cocktails and small plates catered by Zack Sklar of Cutting Edge Cuisine, and may glean tips and inspiration from participating table designers and hostesses. Pictured is "Venetian Ghetto, a Sphardic Passover," designed by Helen Katz for last year's event. Tickets are $75 per person, $125 per patron or $200 per patron couple. For tickets or information, call (248) 865-0617 (press 1). Temple Beth El is at 7400 Telegraph Road, Bloomfield Hills.

Watch Hill Home Interiors in Birmingham is hosting its sixth annual fundraiser on Saturday to benefit the Shrine Schools Auction. From 10 a.m.-6 p.m., shoppers will save 15 percent on nearly everything in the store, which stocks a huge selection of gifts, accessories and furnishings. Custom sizing and finishing is available for most of the furniture. Owners Julie and Tom Supanich will donate 10 percent of the day's proceeds to Shrine of the Little Flower Schools' Auction in Royal Oak. Watch Hill is at 645 S. Eton St. in Birmingham's Rail District. Call (248) 644-7445 for information.

Kurtis Kitchen and Bath Centers will hold Do-It-Yourself clinics from 6-8 p.m. Thursday at all five locations: Clarkston, Livonia, Royal Oak, Warren and Woodhaven. Titled "Managing Your Own Project — The Secrets of Value-Priced Remodeling," the sessions will explore how to determine a budget, choose contractors, establish a timeline and select products with an eye toward color flexibility and design trends. Kurtis is offering participants gift certificates toward installation labor. And do-it-yourselfers will have savings options ranging from waived sales tax and free sink bases to half off plywood construction upgrades on KraftMaid cabinetry. To register, call (888)-KURTIS-1 (587-8471) or check www.KurtisKitchen.com.

Showcasing trends in landscaping, gardening and home improvement, the 20th Michigan Home & Garden Show returns to the Pontiac Silverdome March 11-13 after a five-year hiatus. Displays will include more than a dozen landscaped gardens and blooming landscapes with reflecting ponds, waterfalls, fountains, brick walkways, decks and patios. Attendees may compare products and services and find professionals for landscaping, building, remodeling, do-it-yourself and home decorating projects. The Union of Concerned Scientists will lead seminars on environmentally sensitive garden practices, and chefs Angus Campbell and Robert Garlough of Secchia Institute for Culinary Arts at Grand Rapids Community College will cook up "Sweet Party Treats" to sample. Show hours are noon-9 p.m. March 11; 10 a.m.-9 p.m. March 12; and 10 a.m.-6 p.m. March 13. Admission is $10 adults and $5 for children 6-14; children 5 and younger get in free.

Check www.SilverdomeTickets.com for discount coupons; parking is extra. For more information, visit www.SilverdomeHomeShow.com or call (800) 328-6550.

Gorman's is offering a Stickley truckload sale on furniture, accessories and lighting through Monday at all four furniture and interior design stores. Additionally, Gorman's annual Stickley "Truckload Rug Event" runs today through Sunday at the Novi and Lakeside stores. Stickley rug expert Chris Bingham will discuss the history, quality and latest designs of the all-American-made rugs. Heirloom-quality rug styles, priced at 50 percent off, have been brought in exclusively for the event, including Arts and Crafts, oriental and contemporary styles. For information, call (248) 344-0880 or check www.gormans.com.

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SpongeBob Squarepants Bubbly Fun Rug

Be a part of Sponge Bob and Patrick as they play among the many underwater bubble and even rides on a jellyfish. This vinyl shower curtain will brighten up any youngsters bath. I'm a giant SpongeBob fan and acquired this rug for my bahroom. General I am very satisfied with it. Quality sensible it is alot nicer and sturdier than I anticipated, and a bit bigger. I'd positively advocate this cute little rug for a kids room or kids rest room, or in my case for the adult with a kid inside.

I was searching for something for my three and 1 yr old kids. they usually each love spongebob so this curtian was prefect for them. it is a rough and difficult bathe curtain that can withhold anything. ty amazon for having what i always need. i'd deff suggest this curtain to other people.

Great product, very brilliant, and exactly as pictured. Solely criticism would be I want the realm surrounding the holes was stronger or reinforced somehow.

I acquired this as a result of I couldn't discover a fabric one. It seemed good, but after a couple months all the holes on the highest starting ripping and it was time for the trash. I wasn't in search of a disposable curtain, however this was all I may discover on the time. I've since discovered a material one and couldn't be happier!