Contest time is here with Philips Lighting!

Lighting is my #1 thing in design.  A well illuminated space makes the difference between good design and bad design.  So for our first contest of the the month it only seems fitting that I would team up with Philips Lighting, a leader in energy efficient and sustainable technology.

How to enter

Go to my AOL Living/GMC Trade Secrets and answer the question below. Once you have your answer email it HERE to register to win a $100 American Express Gift Card from Philips Lighting.

In my AOL Living/GMC Trade Secrets I talk specifically about lighting in a few of my segments.  In one segment I talk about recessed lighting.  What is the name of the recessed lighting I mention you use when you DO NOT have access to your attic?

One entry per person please. Contest ends Sunday, August 9th, 2009.   Winner will be announced on Tuesday, August 11th, 2009. Winner will be picked at random.  

Also, check out www.lighting.philips.com to see how Philips is enhancing peoples lives with lighting! Or check out this article from Natural Home Magazine to see how Philips is rising to the challenge and creating energy efficient incandescent bulbs.

*Photo from Natural Home Magazine

Cheat Sheet on Buying New Appliances

I love Consumer Reports Magazine.  They are chocked full of great information.  They give you the nitty gritty about what you should know before you buy and test products to make sure the consumer is getting more bang for their buck.  In this months mag, they touch on kitchen and bath remodels and of course my fav, a little DIY.  They talk about the effects of the declining economy and why now 2/3 of the population is focusing on saving instead of splurging and doing DIY projects themselves versus outsourcing.  With that said, I’ve included a cheat sheet below on ways you can save money on your next appliance purchase thanks to the magazine and also a DIY project for your existing fridge that can save you thousands of dollars.   Recently on an AOL Living clip of mine, I showed how to salvage an old refrigerator using a little appliance spray paint.  This is definitely one of my favorite projects and the one I get asked the most questions about.    Keep in mind, before you spend thousands of dollars on new appliances you can invest less than $10 to give your appliances a completely different look simply by spraying them.  Check out my clip here or skim below for some tips on buying new appliances and saving a little cash-o-la.

CHEAT SHEET: WHAT TO KNOW BEFORE YOU BUY APPLIANCES

1.  Start by researching online.  Amazon.com seemed to beat out everybody in terms of price, selection and quality.

2.  Order off the website and pick it up at the store will save on shipping costs.

3.  Sign up for email alerts online, which allow stores and manufacturers to let you know when things are on sale. For instance, during the “Maytag Month” in May you could get up to $500 in mail in rebates.

4.  To find the best prices go to PriceGrabber.com.  Print out coupons and take them to competitors to see if they will honor them.  As an example, Home Depot will beat a competitors price by 10%.

5.  Get your haggle on and try negotiating on the price.   By researching your product  and the competitors prices, you can walk the walk in the haggle department.  Paying cash is also a great bargaining tool with independent stores.

6.  Skip the extended warranties.  Chances are your appliance wont break within the warranty period.

7.  Go to Energystar.gov and click on appliances to see what rebates are offered for people who buy Energy Star Qualified Appliances.

**This photo was House Beautiful’s Kitchen of the Month April 2009

Photographer: Eric Piasecki