Avoid Contractor Disaster with our Contractor Checklist

May 10th, 2012

Even the thought of a beautiful home remodeling project can turn sour at the thought of hiring a contractor. How will I know if they use quality materials? What am I really paying for? What happens if they do a bad job? These are all common concerns, and you are correct in anticipating them. So how do you put yourself at ease during the contract hiring process? Our detailed guide will help avoid the common pitfalls, protect your investment, and make you more involved in the process.

March Air Force Base, CA, November 20, 2007 --...

Weighing your contractor options can give you the best deal. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

1. Solicit at least three bids
If you wanted to buy an item you have never purchased before, like a didgeridoo, how would you know whether you are being overcharged or if you are paying less for an inferior product? Shopping around is a smart idea, whether you are looking for an indigenous Australian wind instrument or a home remodeling project. Higher bids typically mean that the contractor is using better materials (something you can verify during the contract). Look out for too good to be true bids that are significantly lower. Sometimes these contractors can raise the price during the job, pulling the classic bait-and-switch.
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Thomas Crapper: A Peculiar History (Part 2)

May 8th, 2012

Editor’s Note: This is a three-part article series for Trade Winds Imports written by Mike Bowman, a freelance writer and history enthusiast. It outlines the life and times of Thomas Crapper, famed “inventor” of the modern flush toilet. The views and opinions espoused by Mr. Bowman in this article do not necessarily represent the views of Trade Winds Imports.

 

Part 2

Thomas Crapper: The Legend

With a name like “Crapper,” how could he not have invented the toilet? It’s perfect.

Too perfect.

The universe may have a sense of humor, but sadly, in this instance, the joke is on us. “Sir John Crapper” never really existed. But Thomas Crapper, the plumber, did. And unfortunately, while he was a marketing genius and a brilliant plumber, even going so far as to become the official Royal Sanitary Engineer to British Royalty in the last decades of the 19th Century, he did not invent the modern flush toilet. He didn’t even patent the flushing device he is most often credited with, though he did have an impressive 9 patents to his name. For all of that juicy real-life backstory, you will have to check out our last article installment “Thomas Crapper: The Man.”

Thomas Crapper Toilet at the Victor Horta Muse...

Thomas Crapper Toilet at the Victor Horta Museum, Brussels (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Today’s installment is not about the truth; it’s not about who Thomas Crapper was. It’s about who Thomas Crapper became, years after his death. It’s about how this man, due to a combination of his own clever marketing and commitment to excellence (as well as a bit of sheer luck), became synonymous with the modern toilet, and was immortalized in myth as the man who invented the syphonic flushing W.C.
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Thomas Crapper: A Peculiar History (Part 1)

April 20th, 2012

Editor’s Note: This is a three-part article series for Trade Winds Imports written by Mike Bowman, a freelance writer and history enthusiast. It outlines the life and times of Thomas Crapper, famed “inventor” of the modern flush toilet. The views and opinions espoused by Mr. Bowman in this article do not necessarily represent the views of Trade Winds Imports.

The Man, the Myth, the Legend. And the Truth.

Many of us know about Sir Thomas Crapper, the aptly-christened pseudo-eponymous inventor who created the modern flush toilet.

Only we don’t. And he didn’t.

Thomas Crapper “The Man” was real. But the story of his world-changing invention is just that: a story. Thomas Crapper “The Myth” took over.
This is what really happened. This is a look at the real Thomas Crapper (Not really prefixed by “Sir,” by the way) and the slow evolution of the flush toilet many of us take for granted today. It is an examination of how one man’s salesmanship and personality can beget a legend that overshadows the man himself and makes him something more.

If you will, this is an article that sets out to separate the Truth… from the Crap.

Part1

Thomas Crapper, The Man

Thomas Crapper, the "toilet inventor"

Thomas Crapper, the "toilet inventor"

Thomas Crapper was born in Thorne, a market town in South Yorkshire, England, sometime in 1836. The exact date of his birth is unknown. What is known is that he was baptized in September 1836 and came from a family of modest means. His father was a sailor (probably a steamboat captain [7]) in the small town, which featured a fairly bustling port on the Don River [2]. His brothers were likely dockers, working alongside their father, though it has often been speculated that his elder brother, George, was a Master Plumber in Chelsea [6]. At the age of 14 he became a Master Plumber’s apprentice in Chelsea, London [1]… though some speculate he became an apprentice as early as 11 [2]… and others believe he was actually apprenticed to his brother, George, at the more-adult age of 17 [6].

With so much information about this man’s life missing, or debated, it’s easy to see how the Myth seeps in.
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Water Conservation Helps Mitigate World Hunger

March 22nd, 2012

Ed. – This is a special post for today, March 22, 2012 – World Water Day. World Water Day was initiated in 1993 under the United Nations in response to a growing need for the proper management and conservation of the world’s water resources. We’d like to take a moment to reflect on this year’s theme for World Water Day, “Water and Food Security.” There is a strong, yet delicate link between accessible, drinkable water and the ability of a region to maintain a steady food supply. You can learn more about this year’s World Water Day on the UN’s official WWD page.

Today is World Water Day - a day to reflect on our conservation efforts, and how water impacts our daily lives

There are many causes of world hunger, some of which are obvious, some very complex – some are natural, others are man-made. But one often-overlooked cause of hunger worldwide is tied to an even larger problem of finite natural resources. What is this factor that causes hungry people?

Thirsty plants.
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Enter Our Contest to Win a 39” La Lune Modern Single Bathroom Vanity!

March 16th, 2012

That’s right, ladies and gentlemen, it’s time for that bathroom upgrade you’ve been dreaming about! To celebrate our newest shipment of our very own, exclusive Lune vanity cabinets Trade Winds Imports will be giving away one 39” La Lune modern bathroom vanity FOR FREE to one lucky contestant! Who’s it going to be?

The Prize

The winner of our Facebook-only contest will claim one of our best-selling and well-reviewed Lune single-sink vanities!

Woo-hoo!

Woo-hoo!

This stunning bathroom cabinet features high quality espresso-finished all-wood construction made with real reclaimed oak, rich frosted glass countertop and vessel sink basin, brushed steel handles, and our soft-close hinge technology that guarantees a gentle shut every time you close the cabinet door. This great piece of bathroom furniture is designed to last a lifetime and will certainly look amazing for as long as it remains in your bathroom.

This is an $897 value and it can be all yours for FREE!

How to Enter

The contest will run from March 1, 2012 through March 31, 2012.

To enter, you will first need a Facebook account. Already have one? Then most of the work has already been done! Sign in to your account, and then follow these steps:
1.) Visit our Trade Winds Imports Facebook page, and click the “Like” button. You do “Like” us, don’t you?

First, Like us on Facebook


2.) After you’ve “Liked” us, Click our “Sweepstakes” tab! This will take you to our special landing page.

3.) Arrive at the official entry page and Enter! Click the big green “Enter Sweepstakes” button to fill out the official entry form.

Enter the Sweepstakes!


4.) Fill out the entry form! Please include all the relevant information including your name and contact info so we can get a hold of you if you win the prize! Now’s also a good time to read our “terms and conditions.” Click the toggle that says you understand our terms and conditions, and then click the “Submit” button! Now is also your opportunity to share your official entry on your Facebook wall.

Fill out the Form!


5.) Once the form is filled out and you’ve clicked the “submit” button, you’ll reach a confirmation page. This will give you one more chance to share this contest with your friends! Let your friends have a chance at winning our awesome vanity, too. Or, you know, don’t. It increases your chances NOT to share, but it’s up to you how much publicity you really want our contest to get.

All Done!


You will receive a confirmation email shortly. Be sure to hang onto this confirmation email! If you do not receive a confirmation email, please contact us at (888) 994-9196 and we will make sure your entry is officially recorded.

Spread the Word!

You can share this page on Facebook, Google+, Pinterest, Twitter, or any other social platform including bookmarks to get the word out. Just link to this page or our Facebook profile page! Help us make this sweepstakes an exciting and wonderful event with lots of participants!

Best of luck to all of you! We eagerly look forward to announcing a winner at the end of March!

Do you have any questions or comments? Do you want an insider look into our future contests or clearance sales? Please give us a call or e-mail us any time! Our phone number is (888) 900-0477 and you can reach us by email at Info@TradeWindsImports.com.

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An Innovative Way To Recycle Your Bathroom Countertop!

March 11th, 2012

Have you ever wondered what the best way to get rid of your old bathroom counter top was? To solve this problem a Swedish design studio that goes by the name of Form Us With Love has come up with an ingenious way to go about this. Along with Spanish stone company Cosentino, Form Us With Love has taken your old silestone (a quartz composite used in kitchen and bathroom countertops) slabs and turned them into spectacular vases.
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Envious Justice League Members Secretly Applaud Spider-man Themed Bathroom

January 22nd, 2012

Have you ever dreamed of a super-heroic bathroom? What might once have been a childhood fantasy can now be a totally “marvel-ous” reality with a little ingenuity and creativity, as demonstrated by one super-powered interior designer and comic book fan!

Internet user RileyReplicas shows off his creative side with the design of a Spider-man themed bathroom. As far as bathroom designs go, this is one piece that is sure to knock every comic book fan off of their feet. Movie goers will also be able to recognize some famous villains of the series: The Sandman, The Lizard, Doc Ock, and The Green Goblin.

Look out Spider-man!

RileyReplicas also showcases a couple of rare comics that showcase Spider-man’s black costume, along with a copy of Amazing Fantasy #15. If you’re looking for interesting bathroom ideas, this is one creative path to wander down!

Set your phasers to stun- err, wrong universe. However, if this wall doesn’t get your “spidey sense” tingling, you don’t know how much danger you’re in. Between the Lizard’s gaze, Sandman’s porous fist bursting through the wall, Doc Ock’s two tentacles blindly tapping their way around to find a weak spot, and the jack-o’-lantern bomb from the Green Goblin in mid flight – if you really were Spider-man, you’d be in trouble!

Both Venom and Spider-man action figures pose for a quick snap.

The brilliant brick wall isn’t the only art piece on show in this bathroom. Most of the bathroom furniture is also decked out as well! There are a couple of trapezoidal shelves that show off a couple figurines of Venom and a boxed version of Spider-man. The white webbing that accents these shelves has a sort of “comic book” authenticity to it that fits perfectly in this bathroom. Even the mirror has some of this webbing accenting the corners of the mirror.

The designer of this bathroom shows off two particularly rare comic books off in a haphazard alignment inside two black picture frames. These frames also feature the webbing used on most of the other bathroom.

Finally, if you look at the toilet, the toilet seat cover is a bright, vibrant red that matches the trash bin close by, and one of the hand towels sitting on top of the toilet reservoir.

Two particularily rare framed Spider-man comic books.

Matching Spider-man’s signature colors, the floor mat and the other hand towel sitting next to the red towel are both colored a powder blue.

Even the toilet is properly themed!

This wraps up a brilliantly designed bathroom that’s sure to WOW the next comic book fan expecting to walk into a “normal” bathroom. Even if you’re not into comics, it’s impossible to not admire the amount of thought, work, and craftsmanship that went into this remodel. Check out this link to RileyReplicas and view more images showing off this bathroom!

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Bathroom Fireplaces? A New Trend for 2011-2012?

December 19th, 2011

Hey, it’s cold outside! Haven’t you noticed? And you may have also noticed that it’s getting cold inside, as well. Sometimes it seems it doesn’t even matter if we have central heating running at full-tilt. It still gets simply shivery in our homes – and especially the bathroom!

Most bathrooms are designed to allow for ample ventilation (to prevent mold), so they naturally don’t retain heat and insulate as effectively as other rooms. To say nothing of that early morning chill you get from sitting down on the toilet seat… BRRRR!

So, here’s a crazy idea; or maybe, a not so crazy idea: why not outfit your bathroom with an electric fireplace or a space heater?

A lovely fireplace in a bathroom - luxurious excess, or brilliant idea?

A lovely fireplace in a bathroom - luxurious excess, or brilliant idea?

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Great Bathroom Idea: Motion Sensitive Ambient Lights

December 14th, 2011

Ah, the late-night trip to the bathroom: a sometimes-necessary but always-maligned ritual.

We’ve all been there, stomping slowly down the hall like a zombie (perhaps even less gracefully), stepping across the bathroom threshold, flicking on the lights and getting completely blinded in the process. Perhaps inevitably, you stub your toe and emit a few choice words into your echoing bath chamber.

BARNEY! MY TOE!

Sometimes, this is what it feels like to go to the bathroom in the middle of the night.

Once your business is done, you march to the lightswitch (don’t forget to wash your hands!) and flip off the vanity lights, and are blinded once again as your eyes are forced to re-adjust to total darkness. By the time you return to bed, you’re still seeing stars and halos, your toe is still hurting, and it takes you another fifteen minutes for your eyes to settle and the slight buzzing headache to go away so you can fall back asleep.

But what if we could enjoy our late night trip to the bathroom without having to blind ourselves in the process (and still see our surroundings well enough to “aim” properly)? What if we didn’t even have to raise a finger to turn on a light switch?

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The Joy of Healthy Hands – Infographic

December 5th, 2011

It’s been a while since our last post, but that’s because we’ve been hard at work helping people with their remodeling projects, acquiring new suppliers, expanding our bathroom vanity warehouse, and developing this gorgeous infographic on a very important issue: hand washing and hygiene.

About a month ago some of us in the office were wondering about hand washing. Why do we wash our hands after using the restroom? Why do we not wash our hands prior to “doing our business”? And is it really necessary to wash every single time?

So we did our research, and we can say that the short answer to that last question is a resounding yes. Want to know why? Read our infographic and find out!

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