Technicolor Solutions to 3 Popular Home Peeves
Imagination runs wild in these illustrated solutions for Houzzers' home dilemmas
Vanessa Brunner
December 1, 2012
Houzz Contributor
From cords that threaten to trip us and tangle, to the unattractive cable box, to awkward cranking window handles — we all have our home pet peeves. Mine: The little crumb tray at the bottom of my toaster. For others it's ugly smoke alarms or vacuum cleaners that are impossible to empty. We asked you what everyday item you’d want to make over and loved seeing the diverse answers.
We learned that Houzzers really hate cleaning toilets — but not just the inside. All of the crevices, cracks, curves and grooves on the exterior of the standard toilet can be a pain to clean. "In this day and age, you would think a person shouldn't have to get down on their hands and knees with a toothbrush in hand to clean [the toilet]," posted mrsben.
Refrigerators — with their protruding handles and smudged stainless steel — are another source of frustration. And baseboard heaters really have Houzzers cringing. "They hog up about 3 inches around the edges of every room, they get dusty so it's something else to clean (oh, yay), and are loud when you kick them by accident (on purpose?)," says Jen Hollywood_Showell.
Now that we've vented, what's the solution? Sometimes the crazy idea is the best one. Illustrator Leslie Wood gets us started.
We learned that Houzzers really hate cleaning toilets — but not just the inside. All of the crevices, cracks, curves and grooves on the exterior of the standard toilet can be a pain to clean. "In this day and age, you would think a person shouldn't have to get down on their hands and knees with a toothbrush in hand to clean [the toilet]," posted mrsben.
Refrigerators — with their protruding handles and smudged stainless steel — are another source of frustration. And baseboard heaters really have Houzzers cringing. "They hog up about 3 inches around the edges of every room, they get dusty so it's something else to clean (oh, yay), and are loud when you kick them by accident (on purpose?)," says Jen Hollywood_Showell.
Now that we've vented, what's the solution? Sometimes the crazy idea is the best one. Illustrator Leslie Wood gets us started.
Tired of cleaning your toilet? This version permanently resides in your shower for the ultimate in no-hassle cleaning.
Stay warm this winter without having to dust off your baseboard heaters. These hot lava walls provide constant heat without taking up any precious square footage.
Get rid of refrigerator handles and smudged stainless steel doors with this new idea: a hidden fridge that provides food with a pop-out arm at the push of a button.
Tell us: Houzzers also say they'd like to do away with metal ceiling grates, unsightly gray electrical panels and the constant hum of their home appliances. What miracle invention do you wish for?
More: Everyday Home Must-Haves Beg for a Makeover
Tell us: Houzzers also say they'd like to do away with metal ceiling grates, unsightly gray electrical panels and the constant hum of their home appliances. What miracle invention do you wish for?
More: Everyday Home Must-Haves Beg for a Makeover
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The other thing that is handy are timers switches on closets so the light is not left on by accident. We also have timers on bathroom fans. You just have to be careful not to put two timers next to each other in the same panel, they can overheat and cause a hazzard.