Back in December of 2004, one of Kim Beck’s 3-year-old twins, Meghan, died in her bedroom, not since disease, but her dresser.

Kim told News Center 5’s Lynn Jolicoeur that Meghan was probably climbing on a drawer when the breakfront fell on her. The rest of her family was resting and heard nothing.

The Becks knew concerning the risk of furniture tip-over before Meghan’s death. They had tenable larger furniture pieces, counting a dining room hutch, to the walls. They did not see Meghan’s little dresser as a danger.

In their pain, they launched a non-profit organization called Meghan’s Hope, to teach other parents about falling furniture. They hope an future fundraising walk in Worcester would help them spread their message

The Becks’ research has established falling furniture injures eight to ten thousand kids in the United States every year, and has killed 23 children since Meghan died.

Kim Beck is working on receiving furniture straps sold in more stores, and pushing a bill in Congress in Meghan’s name. It will mandate manufacturers include new warning labels and safety straps with any furniture that can tip.

For more information on Meghan’s Hope call 508-885-9322.

Back in December of 2004, one of Kim Beck’s 3-year-old twins, Meghan, died in her bedroom, not since disease, but her dresser.

Kim told News Center 5’s Lynn Jolicoeur that Meghan was probably climbing on a drawer when the breakfront fell on her. The rest of her family was resting and heard nothing.

The Becks knew concerning the risk of furniture tip-over before Meghan’s death. They had tenable larger furniture pieces, counting a dining room hutch, to the walls. They did not see Meghan’s little dresser as a danger.

In their pain, they launched a non-profit organization called Meghan’s Hope, to teach other parents about falling furniture. They hope an future fundraising walk in Worcester would help them spread their message

The Becks’ research has established falling furniture injures eight to ten thousand kids in the United States every year, and has killed 23 children since Meghan died.

Kim Beck is working on receiving furniture straps sold in more stores, and pushing a bill in Congress in Meghan’s name. It will mandate manufacturers include new warning labels and safety straps with any furniture that can tip.

For more information on Meghan’s Hope call 508-885-9322.

With spring lastly bringing warmer weather, some of us are preliminary to dust off the patio furniture and think concerning outdoor entertaining.

It’s a good time to think regarding outdoor lighting, as well. In fact, many of the same principles after great lighting for dining rooms could be applied to porches, decks, patios and verandas.

If you have an umbrella table, the options include tiny lights that attach to the spokes of the umbrella and larger lights (some of them solar) that attach to the pole and could shine up or down.

If you don’t have an umbrella,” says Moran, “there are bell-shaped lanterns, made of Sunbrella fabric, that are on a pole that goes up during the hole in the table.”

Another possibility for lighting up an umbrella: Pottery Barn’s beautifully patterned battery-operated paper lanterns ($14 in red or blue).

Strings of outdoor lights are an easy way to make glow. The options these days go far further than the typical Christmas-light or Chinese-lantern look and include lights shaped like dragonflies and even tiny crystal balls, Moran says.

Have a structure you could hang something a bit heavier from? Think about a chandelier-like wrought-iron fixture meant to hold candles.

Or, to cast warm candlelight on a table, there are votive holders intended to shield flame from the wind.

And there are all kinds of lanterns that can hang or sit on a table,” Moran says. (Pottery Barn has a great looking “Malta” lantern, in four colors, meant to hold a fat pillar candle. It costs $29.)

To bring extra pizzazz to an outdoor dining space, Moran suggests those backyard staples of 1950s cookouts: tiki torches, but not the cheesy bamboo models.

“We have torches made of solid copper that make an absolutely beautiful statement,” she says. “And they last forever.”

CINCINNATI-Fire crews acted rapidly to knock down a potentially large fire at a Cincinnati business on Thursday.

The fire broke out at Yesteryear’s in the 4000 block of Glenway Avenue,soon before 11 a.m. The fire started in the front of the store, and soon engulfed most of the front area.

Firefighters were able to transport it under manage in a few minutes, but the store suffered serious damage from fire and smoke.An adjacent business, Mr. Mugs, suffered some light smoke damage.No cause has been strong-minded for the fire, which broke out before the store opened for the day.

TULSA,Okla.A Tulsa furniture store owner is severely beaten through what police say was an apparent robbery.

Customers found the victim yesterday afternoon covered in blood lying in the back area of Grandpa’s Furniture and Mattress. Police later identified the owner as Mike Opitz. They say the beating broke Opitz’s skull and left him with bleeding in his brain. He was taken to a hospital and listed in serious condition.

Make sure that mosquitoes are the only things, which get zapped in your backyard this summer.

Homeowners are using additional electrical appliances outdoors.Tiki torches, foam coolers and charcoal grills are life form replaced by table lamps, refrigerators, fans, electric boilers and flat-screen televisions.

About a third of the $220 billion spent on remodeling in 2004 was allocated to outdoor amenities, according to a survey conducted by the Hearth, Patio and Barbecue Association, a trade group.‘‘We’re extending the home into the backyard,” said Angela Mickalide of the Home Safety Council in Washington. ‘‘With that come all the appliances and the power to power them.”

About 240 people are electrocuted at home in the United States each year, she said. Many of persons wounded occur outdoors.People are using more power tools and lighting outdoors. They are creating outdoor living rooms,” said Anne Mayberry, program manager for the Electrical Safety Foundation International in Washington.Electricity is bringing more appliances and conveniences outdoors, but people need to be conscious of the potential hazards that come with it.

Special care should be taken to keep electrical cords, tools and appliances absent from pools, hot tubs, water features and wet surfaces.”Electricity and water just don’t mix,”Mayberry said.Moisture can render indoor appliances dangerous, even in secluded areas such as porches or gazebos.

Dampness is an issue,even in an area enclosed with a roof.The main thing for safety is that people should make sure that the tools and appliances they are by outdoors are manufactured for outdoor use.Extension cords and electric tools and appliances must be plugged into an outlet equipped with a ground-fault interrupter—a device that shuts off the power if current strays beyond the wiring.

All outdoor outlets must be ground-fault protected, she said. They also must be equipped with weatherproof covers.Consumers also are supposed to ensure that the appliances, extension cords and other electrical equipment bear the label of an independent testing group such as Underwriters Laboratories, Mickalide said.Outdoor lighting, hedge trimmers, power washers and electric grills may overload the outdoor circuit and create a fire hazard in the house, Mayberry said.

Buying new furniture could be an adventure. Even with careful thought and wise shopping, it also could be quite costly. We have found that a bit of research could make all the difference in purchasing quality furniture.

Before making a major furniture purchase, appraise how you live in a room. Consider how that function may change over time, and then choose pieces that would best serve those changing needs.

Wooden furniture pieces like side tables, bookcases or even dressers are referred to as case pieces. When shopping for case pieces, building is more important than brand name, although brand names could certainly drive up the price of the piece. It’s important to look for quality structure because a well-made piece will last for decades.

There are several types of case pieces accessible. Pieces described as solid wood furniture means that all the bare parts of that piece are made of the same type of wood, with no other materials built-in, such as plywood or also particleboard.

Veneered pieces begin with thin layers of wood glued together with the grain at correct angles over a thick core. This crisscross design reduces the chances of splitting or even cracking. Many people believe veneer furniture is lesser to solid wood pieces. However, many of the premium manufacturers use veneer to produce their best pieces. As a result, veneer furniture could be more costly than solid wood.

Engraved furniture is the least expensive. It is made with special pieces of particleboard, which have been in print with a wood grain. Although economical, engraved wood pieces lack the deepness of real woods or veneers. But they might be a good value for children’s rooms or even play areas.

NEW TRENDS IN FURNITURE DESIGN

Here are some of the high points from High Point:

Hidden chargers:Hate appears of your cell phone charging on your nightstand? Companies are putting chargers inside the drawers of nightstands and also desks.

Armless loveseats:They look sleek, take up less room in small townhouses and condos, and are more versatile to arrange in a room.

Beds:It’s easier than ever to get a custom look of upholstered beds in many variations. The hot look is the headboard, which mimics the shape of a wing chair.

Colors:Orange remains strong in all hues, and so does red. But also look for soft colors such as celery, sea glass, Tiffany blue, spa blue,cocoa,gray, sand and even blush; also yummy shades such as apricot, pumpkin, raisin and watermelon. Bronze is big.

Etageres:These freestanding shelf units open on all sides and old for display were everywhere, providing a more open, less bulky look. You’ll see them on freestanding shelves as well as plasma TV units.

Entertainment units:Manufacturers are persuaded that women now don’t mind looking at a large plasma TV screen. More options put the TV on display. Look for a diversity of consoles. For big bucks, a plasma lift system makes the TV disappear.

Fabrics:Some of the prints are so oversize they seem as if they’re on steroids. Another big look is luster stolen from the runway, whether it’s luminescence on a tassel,silk pillows,an iridescent polyester/ rayon blend or metallic leather.

Faux leathers:They wear well and look like the genuine thing from ostrich to croc to python.They also make great wall coverings.

Oval ottomans:Fabric- and leather-covered ottomans give an elegant look.

As your lawn and garden arrive at their peak of color and vibrancy over the next few weeks, it is surely no time to put up with dreary patio furniture. With a little attention to it now, each piece could claim its rightful place when brought from winter storage and reach back into the light.

Lawn, pool, and patio furniture wants to be examined, cleaned thoroughly and restored if essential, and since bacteria thrive in summer heat and humidity, it is always a first-class idea to remove potential germs from the furniture on a usual basis. On hard, non-porous surfaces, like plastic for example, a liquid, multi-purpose, antibacterial cleaning aid is perfect for the first big wash-down in spring. The furniture can then be maintained with the use of a handy, non-streaking, antibacterial spray.

Here are a few useful tips to make this job a breeze, good manners of Mr. Clean:

Plastic furniture

Wipe heavy grime off first with a clean, wet cloth. Follow by spraying with germ-fighting solution like Mr. Clean Antibacterial Multi-Surfaces Cleaner, as heading for on the label. Rinse methodically with water from your garden hose. Also keep it clean throughout the season with Mr. Clean Antibacterial Multi-Surfaces Spray. Its non-streaking formula is perfect for glass tabletops too. If scuffs and stains are excessive, try spray painting the plastic in a matching color.

Wicker furniture

Scrub gently with a soft scrub brush dampened with an oil-based soap solution. Rinse by hosing down. Maintain by hosing down occasionally to prevent dirt from lodging in the crevices. Prevent erosion from rain with vinyl covers.

Wrought-iron furniture

Wash with a clean cloth dampened with a mixture of water and a mild dishwashing detergent, such as Ivory. Rinse methodically with a garden hose. To remove rust, lightly sand the affected area, clean with a clean cloth and then apply matching, wrought iron paint.

Teak furniture

As with wicker, use a soft scrub brush dampened with water and a mild oil-based soap. Rinse with a garden hose.

Here’s the premise: You have a relaxed, but not grandiose, house/condo/ apartment. And, yes, you have normal 8-foot ceilings-when most new structure seems to be going 9 feet or higher. And most furniture in stores today (even the mattresses) seems to be going the same voluminous route. How do you beautify without overpowering? How do you make your seats feel bigger and taller?

Here are some thoughts on scale in a small place and some tricks for getting it right:

Bedroom:With the arrival of extra-deep mattresses,the bed could swallow up a room in one bite.Consider forgoing the theatrical headboard. The pillows will give you more suppleness than a headboard. And use task lamps on bedside tables as a substitute of large lamps with shades.

Living room/family room:The goal is to reduce the proportions of what you put in here, while still creation the room big on comfort.

Do not use tall lamps.Floor lamps should place no taller than 64 inches.A table lamp also should not go up more than 64 inches (counting table and lamp height).
Don’t buy a tall activity center. “For what a cabinet costs, put your cash into the technology of a flat-screen TV.”
And,it’s OK to do cabinets or bookcases that make bigger to the ceiling. Going all the way up would give the room a sense of height and you,more storage space.But also think 6- or 7-foot-tall ones. Then “put an thing on top–that creates height in a much more open way.”

Kitchen:Here’s where you smash the rule that says don’t call attention to the ceiling. You get the additional storage space, and it gives a taller sentiment to the space.

Miscellaneous:Don’t hang the light fixture in an entry. Keep it ceiling-mounted. And, don’t clutters up the room try one chair or one long low bench with a sequence of small drawings or photographs hung above it.