Dror for Target features a variety of products, including comforters, quilts, sheets and tapestries in elegant shades of brown, raspberry, plum and aqua with textures and patterns that are destined for mixing and matching. The decorative accessories selection includes removable wall decals, a clock, lamps, a side table and a nesting bookcase. Stationery items include file folders, sketchbook and mini composition books that are emblazoned with modern graphics. Many products collapse, fold away or serve multiple functions, making them ideal for city dwellers, college students or anyone looking to maximize space on a tight budget.

“Target continues to provide smart living storage solutions that add graphic appeal to the home,” said Gina Sprenger, senior vice president of Merchandising, Target. “The Dror for Target collection is another example of how Target delivers on our brand promise, Expect More. Pay Less.”

Benshetrit established his multidisciplinary design practice, Dror, in 2002 with the intent of “bringing poetry to function.” Benshetrit is known for creating functional objects that are enhanced by an artist’s eye. His designs are intuitive, easy to use and imbued with a lighthearted spirit that brings an element of joy to everyday tasks.

“I design all of my work to evoke emotion and inspire well being,” said Benshetrit. “Not only are these products wonderfully practical, they’re engineered to create a spark of energy in the lives of their owners.”
 
The collection ranges in price from $0.99 for mini composition books to $89.99 for the nesting bookshelf. Benshetrit’s goal in creating this collection for Target is to help guests organize more with less by emphasizing the concepts of utility and multi-function. The products work in a variety of room settings, from home offices to bedrooms, and many perform more than one task. Bookcases can be stacked and grouped for unlimited storage options, and each four-shelf unit can disassemble into a compact bundle for easy transport. And textured and patterned quilts and throw pillows are double-sided, providing twice the decorating power.

 When children want to decorate their rooms and personal space, the solutions are many times expensive, time-consuming and messy. In today’s world, very few parents are able to cope with that hassle, yet want to give their children the special room they can call their own. Stuck on You (www.stuckonyou.biz) is pleased to announce new, personalized Wall Art, aimed to celebrate children’s individuality from within their own room for a reasonable price.

The peel and stick art can be removed and rearranged from the walls, doors and furniture within a child’s bedroom without leaving a residue or causing wall or paint damage.

Children can pick out their own stylish design from three different sets: room art, wall art and door art. Each set includes a choice of 10 designs such as cars, construction, daisy, ponies, and fairy and glam dots. Retail prices for the three sets are as follows: door art - $49.95, wall art - $69.95, and room art - $89.95.

“Stuck on You celebrates children’s individuality and there is no better place for self-expression than in their bedroom,” notes Amy Lipton, Stuck on You’s US president. “Also keeping the parent’s interest in mind – our wall art is reasonably priced and will not cause any wall or paint damage when picked up and placed in a different spot. It was a natural and seamless transition into home decorating for our company.”

Noting their unique taste, children can brighten up walls, doors, wardrobes, mirrors and windows with Stuck on You Personalized Wall Art. All three sets serve different decorating purposes as room art contains sufficient stickers to decorate an entire room, wall art contains enough stickers to create a wall mural, and door art contains enough stickers to decorate a door, furniture, or other small space (study area, sleeping nook, bunk bed space). Children can have fun, be creative and move around the pieces around as the mood strikes. Keeping Stuck on You’s motto in mind, all wall art is personalized, so there is never a doubt whose space it is.

For more information about these items or other Stuck on You products, visit www.stuckonyou.biz or call 1-888-236-2800 for a free brochure or product sample.

Visit the new Linens ‘N Things (www.lnt.com) to discover a wide assortment of highly recognized and popular home and living brands (over 2,000 brands and growing everyday). A sampling of the well-known, international brands you’ll find include: Calvin Klein, Vera Wang, Le Creuset, Versace, Viking Range and Laura Ashley, as well as more recently launched lines such as DwellStudio, Perry Ellis Bedding and Blissliving Home. It all adds up to a comprehensive online destination, filled with over 200,000 top branded products for every room in the home — from bedding and bath to dining and decor and much, much more.

But top brands and a huge product selection is just the start. New categories have been added too, including pet products; a large selection of high quality nursery bedding, accessories and baby gear, such as CoCaLo; a variety of travel accessories and luggage for any occasion. Be sure to check the site daily for its ever changing “Deal of the Day” and Clearance Center that promise deals like you’ve never seen before. With a focus on pricing its products for today’s cost-conscious, quality-driven consumer, the new Linens ‘N Things (www.lnt.com) prides itself on its leading staple of brands offering products at every price point.

The new Linens ‘N Things (www.lnt.com) is built on an innovative, technologically-advanced e-commerce platform that enhances the online shopping experience based on real-time consumer demand. The website changes automatically by the day and even by hour based on what customers are buying. New brands and products are added constantly while the existing inventory is continually remerchandized to meet the consumer demand and desires.

The new Linens ‘N Things (www.lnt.com) builds on the enormous customer following that started 34 years ago with a single store in West Orange, New Jersey. Recognized as one of the top two home retailers in North America, something that very few home textiles and housewares brands have achieved, the new Linens ‘N Things (www.lnt.com) offers consumers the ultimate shopping experience that includes new and noteworthy retail partnerships, from brands that have been trusted for decades to leading brands in contemporary home furnishings, accessories and much more.

About Linens ‘N Things (www.lnt.com)

The first Linens ‘N Things store opened in 1975 in West Orange, New Jersey, offering high-end linens at discount prices. The company grew to become the second largest specialty retailer of home furnishings and decorative accessories with 589 stores across North America. Now part of the Gordon Brothers Brands and Hilco Consumer Capital portfolio of retail brands, the new Linens ‘N Things hits home with consumers as a popular e-commerce website, featuring top brands, new categories, hot deals, and the ultimate shopping sensation. Poised to become the modern standard in retailing, the new Linens ‘N Things caters to the demands and desires of today’s consumer.

Add a splash of color by planting annuals around the home using the Black & Decker 18-Volt Cordless Electric Cultivator (Item #175332, $99.97). Line the front walkway or fill window boxes with shades that complement the home’s exterior color scheme. Select species that thrive in your area of the country, such as Dahlias and Begonias. Make sure to pay particular attention to the growing conditions around your home, including the availability of water and sunlight, and visit your local Lowe’s to browse through the 2009 Garden Club Select Flowers of the Year, a group of regionally-grown varieties that have been rigorously tested and are guaranteed to thrive in both garden beds and containers.

To make neighbors green with envy, ensure that plants and shrubs are well-nourished. While the three vital elements for lawn and plant growth — oxygen, hydrogen and carbon — are available from the environment, other important nutrients can be supplied through fertilizer. Sta-Green’s 14 Lb. Ultra Lawn Fertilizer (Item #304462, $14.47) will help keep all grass types, from Bermuda to Fine Fescue, healthy and flourishing. For specific outdoor plants, such as roses or rhododendrons, plant foods with targeted nutrients can help each variety bloom to its fullest potential.

Eye-catching lawns also require weekly maintenance to keep them in tip-top shape. If your mower has been in hibernation since last year’s growing season, prep it now for the busy months ahead with a few simple tasks. Installing a new spark plug, cleaning the filter and replacing last year’s oil and gas will have your mower up-and-running in a snap.

Tischlager, primarily a custom furniture producer, was founded by designer Susan Drescher to provide quality, creative, eco-friendly furniture solutions for the buyer looking for remarkable value. “Our quality is top drawer,” said Drescher, speaking of the level of craftsmanship and materials. “We use soft-close drawer slides and environmentally friendly materials and finishes with custom configurations and colors for the client.

The Tischlager “Modern Niche” was an idea conceived at 35,000 feet on a trip home from Europe. Tischlager owner Susan Drescher and her business partner first found inspiration for the Modern Niche at a gallery they were visiting in Amsterdam. “We visited a gallery that had shallow recesses on an entire wall in a stairwell,” said Drescher. “Each was filled with a portion of an image of the paintings on display. The look was dramatic and we loved it!”

At the same time, Drescher was trying to find a solution to add interest to a bland hallway at her home. “On the return flight we struggled with how to add this type of treatment to our hallway. I was dreading the idea of tearing up all the drywall and framing in the niche space,” said Drescher. She decided it could be best accomplished by designing an easy-to-install preformed insert. This would allow the average homeowner to do the installation from beginning to end and add a touch of unusual beauty to their home at an affordable price.

Installation is done in four easy steps; cut drywall, insert niche, glue and screw, then finish edges and paint. Complete step-by-step photos are shown on the Tischlager Website at http://www.tischlager.com/div_mn/htm/mn_howto.htm

All Tischlager furniture is made in the U.S. and carries a modern aesthetic look and is designed for functionality. Storage spaces are featured in most pieces and all are made with sustainability in mind. “I want to build durable furniture that won’t go to landfills,” said Drescher. “Modern, functional, creative and sustainable is my mantra.”

If you’ve ever wanted wine display racks, china displays, or stock room shelving, like the commercial fixtures you see in your favorite shops, now is a great time to buy quality pre-owned store fixtures, racks and shelving for your closet, garage, pantry, barn, home office, business, and more, at a great discounts

“Commercial store fixtures, racks and shelving are built tough to withstand retail environments, but come with a high price tag and large minimum-size orders that put this kind of purchase out of the reach of the average consumer,” says Jim Grimwade, CEO of JG Resources, a national asset liquidation company. JG Resources is conducting store fixture liquidation sales at 26 selected Cost Plus World Market^® Stores in 13 States only.

“Right now, consumers can outfit any area of their home with pre-owned store fixtures at great savings from any of the 26 store fixture liquidation locations,” says Grimwade, “and NO minimum size purchase is required — buy just one item, or as many as you need.” There are bargains on wine racks, wooden display tables and hutches, pallet jacks, storage shelving, and barrels or baskets in a variety of styles and sizes.

Grimwade is eager to spread the word about these 26 selected Cost Plus World Market Store fixture liquidations, adding, “This is a fantastic opportunity to SAVE significantly on display shelving and tables, check-out counters, employee lockers, grid wall, rug display racks, balers, compactors, picture and card displays, chair displays, pallet rack, and more.”

You’re invited to hurry in, shop and save NOW during the store fixture liquidation at 26 SELECTED Cost Plus World Market(R) locations; it’s business as usual at all other Cost Plus World Market(R) Stores. View store locations, photos, and sample inventory at http://www.JGResource.com or call (800) 823-2433.

ShopSmart Poll:
* Only 7% of Women Hate Cleaning Their Homes;
* Spend Five Hours per Week Cleaning

According to a new poll featured in the May 2009 issue of ShopSmart, from the publisher of Consumer Reports, women spend an average of five hours per week cleaning their homes. Surprisingly, only seven percent said that they hate cleaning their home, while 25% said that they love cleaning or find it relaxing.

The poll also found that vacuuming is by far the preferred cleaning task for women (41%), while cleaning the shower or tub (26%) and toilets (25%) were the tasks disliked the most.

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Conducted by the Consumer Reports National Research Center, the household cleaning habits poll is part of ShopSmart’s feature on making cleaning easier and saving consumers’ money, which includes a list of the best household cleaners; a roundup of cleaners to avoid; cleaning safety advice; top reader tips; and a guide to tackling the toughest jobs.

“We were surprised to find that women actually like to clean their homes, some even finding it relaxing!” said Lisa Lee Freeman, editor-in-chief of ShopSmart. “Our guide will help make cleaning easier and cheaper by showing women which key items they need to purchase and the ones to avoid.”

BEST Household Cleaners

All-Purpose — Ammonia is an inexpensive good all-around cleaner.

Bathroom — Comet Scratch Free Disinfectant with Bleach is the top rated shower scum buster.

Windows — Windex No Drip works on indoor and outdoor grime.

Dishes — Dawn Direct Foam got the best results in dirty-plate tests.

Metal & Floors — For the best results, pick a product designed for the particular surface.

What NOT to Buy
Antibacterial cleaners — Overuse can result in antibiotic-resistant bacteria.

Drain cleaners — These can damage skin, eyes, lungs and septic tanks, use a Master Plunger instead.

Furniture polish — New furniture is sealed at the factory, making polish unnecessary.

Toilet-bowl cleaners — All-purpose cleaner gets the job done instead.

Oven cleaners — Chemicals are corrosive; use nonabrasive nylon scrubbing pads and baking soda, add salt for tough stains.

Who Does the Dirty Work?
Eighty-three percent of married* women said they do the majority of the cleaning in their household. However, 56% indicated that their spouse or significant other also helps with the cleaning.
Thirty-seven percent of married* women said that they have arguments about cleaning the house.
Over a quarter of women (26%) said that the amount of cleaning their spouse is doing is declining.

What are you Purchasing?
On average, women typically use five products to clean their homes.
Over one-third (37%) of women are purchasing more environmentally friendly cleaning products than last year, while 13% admit they are buying less.

Coming Clean
Thirty-six percent have made areas off-limits to guests because the rooms weren’t clean.
Three quarters (75%) of respondents said their home is as clean or cleaner than the one they grew up in.
* Married includes single, but living as married.

ShopSmart’s Nine Cleaning Tools For Getting At Every Crevice

• Feather duster for cleaning knickknacks, photo frames, and other lightweight objects.
• White cotton gloves for cleaning chandeliers and between the slats of Venetian blinds.
• Disposable Swiffer cloths for cleaning dust magnets like computer and TV screens, all kinds of hard surfaces like tabletops and floors, and even car dashboards. Keep one in your car and do a quick swipe when you’re at a stoplight.
• Scrub brush with a handle for miscellaneous cleaning tasks.
• Microfiber cloth for catching and holding dust.
• Cotton swabs to get into tiny crevices in plastic bath mats, silver, and other small, hard-to-reach spots.
• Tile grout brushes with a single row of stiff bristles for scrubbing between ceramic tiles. Toothbrushes also do the job.
• Lint-free dust cloths made of 100 percent cotton for cleaning easily scratched items; other fabrics used as rags can create lint and are abrasive.
• Lambswool Dusters or dust mops for wiping large surfaces, even walls, to pick up dust and cobwebs. The head can be removed and washed. Or save a few bucks and make a dust mop by wrapping an old cotton rag around the end of a broomstick.

ShopSmart Brand Loyalty Poll Methodology
The Consumer Reports National Research Center conducted a telephone survey of a nationally representative probability sample of telephone households. 1,008 interviews were completed among women aged 18+. Interviewing took place over December 18-21, 2008. The margin of error is +/- 3.2% points at a 95% confidence level.

About ShopSmart magazine:
Launched in Fall 2006 by Consumers Union, publisher of Consumer Reports, ShopSmart draws upon Consumer Reports’ celebrated tradition of accepting no advertisements and providing unbiased product reviews. The magazine features product reviews, shopping tips on how to get the most out of products and “best of the best” lists. ShopSmart is ideal for busy shoppers who place a premium on time. ShopSmart has a newsstand price of $4.99 and is available nationwide at major retailers including Barnes & Noble, Wal-Mart, Borders, Kroger, Safeway and Publix.

EasyBloom users receive care instructions for more than 400 additional plants, including Supertunias, Diamond Frost and Superbells

PlantSense Inc., maker of the EasyBloom plant sensor, announced today that it will expand its comprehensive online plant library through a partnership with Proven Winners^®, a leading brand of high-quality flowering plants in North America. More than 400 new plant overviews, photos and care instructions have been added to give casual gardeners a better sense of what they can grow in their backyard, home or office.

EasyBloom has already helped thousands of people create the beautiful garden they want. It’s as easy as “Ready, Set, Grow”: just place it in the soil for 24 hours, indoors or outdoors, and EasyBloom takes detailed “plant’s eye view” measurements of sunlight, temperature, humidity and soil condition. Afterwards, plug it into a Mac or PC and the data is quickly analyzed and matched to the library of plants on EasyBloom.com. A straightforward, easy-to-read report then explains which plants will thrive in that location, or how to help ailing plants already there.

With the Proven Winners additions, EasyBloom.com features more than 5,000 species of plants including flowers, trees, vegetables, herbs and shrubs. New plants in the library include the popular Supertunia, which is a drought-resistant petunia hybrid; the heat- and drought-resistant Euphorbia ‘Diamond Frost’; and Superbells, a Calibrachoa hybrid which is extremely low maintenance.

Each plant is searchable by name, color, height and season, plus special features including fragrant flowers, North American natives, good for cut flowers, etc. In addition, the library offers specific directions on how to care for each plant and what pests to watch out for.

“We are dedicated to helping people make expert decisions on what plants they can grow, and how to take care of their plants,” said Matthew Glenn, founder and CEO of PlantSense Inc. “This partnership with Proven Winners makes it even easier for our customers to make great choices, and explore all their possibilities for creating a beautiful garden with no fuss.”

Proven Winners plants are sold in just about every garden center in North America. The organization’s goals are to introduce the best, most unique, high-performing plants, to produce them under the highest quality standards, and to market the plants innovatively. As part of this partnership.

“EasyBloom is a natural fit for Proven Winners because we are both dedicated to helping gardeners succeed, and have fun doing it,” said Marshall Dirks, director of marketing for Proven Winners. “We are happy to be working with PlantSense to help casual gardeners, and hopefully introduce some new people to the joys of gardening as well.”

Priced at $59.95, EasyBloom is available at major online retailers including Amazon.com

ABOUT EASYBLOOM
EasyBloom takes the guesswork and frustration out of gardening by easily revealing which plants will thrive in any location, and how to care for ailing plants. Through detailed “plant’s eye view” measurements of sunlight, temperature, humidity and soil condition, EasyBloom allows anyone to enjoy a beautiful indoor or outdoor garden — from a single bedroom begonia to a backyard bed of roses. It was developed by PlantSense, Inc., a team of garden enthusiasts based in San Francisco. For more information please visit www.easybloom.com.

ABOUT PROVEN WINNERS^®
Proven Winners is a brand that encompasses all that is gardening. Annuals, perennials and flowering shrubs are marketed and advertised to help beginning and expert gardeners have success. In 2007, they celebrated their 15th anniversary and look forward to finding new and innovative ways to make gardening remain the #1 hobby. For more information, go to www.provenwinners.com.

“Your front entry is the first thing people see when they drive by your house, whether they make it through the threshold or not,” said Griffin. “For pure vanity, you want to express your style and make a welcoming statement. In addition, if your home is on the market, people make purchasing decisions very quickly after seeing your home. An attractive first impression will help potential buyers fall in love with it immediately.”

Fresh Front Door
For about $75 you can transform your front door into a knockout. Choose a paint color to match the architectural style of your home. A great example is to try a rich charcoal gray or even dark ebony on a modern home or a cobalt blue or striking red on a traditional home. Install a coordinating kick plate, dynamic door numbers and a door knocker, which are the diamond earrings of your front door according to Griffin.

Lush Landscaping
Consider potted plants instead of a full lawn renovation. Strategically place full, green plants like ferns into pots on your stoop or walkway leading up to the door. Ferns are about $10 each and you can find attractive pots for as little as $5. Be sure to coordinate your pots in the same material so the look is cohesive. Flank each side of your door with substantial topiaries at least four feet tall so you can see the tops of them from the street. This is a great option for apartment dwellers and condo owners who might not be allowed to paint the door.

Lovely Lighting
Lights should be functional at night but also look fantastic during the day. Replace standard flush mounted fixtures with lantern-style lighting for a chic addition and accessorize with pathway lighting. You can use CFL light bulbs in fixtures which helps save on energy costs and are an added safety benefit.

Furniture Flair
Space permitting, don’t shy away from adding outdoor furniture such as rocking chairs, tables and even lamps. Outdoor pillows in weather resistant fabric will add extra flair to punch up your front patio furniture. Pick a contrasting color for your furniture to accent the colors of your home. For instance, if you have white columns use dark woods to make them stand out.

For more tips on upping your curb appeal, visit Lowe’s stores in the United States and Canada or Lowes.com. Watch Griffin give her tips at LowesCreativeIdeas.com/frontdoor.

About Lowe’s
With fiscal year 2008 sales of $48.2 billion, Lowe’s Companies, Inc. is a FORTUNE(R) 50 company that serves approximately 14 million customers a week at more than 1,650 home improvement stores in the United States and Canada. Founded in 1946 and based in Mooresville, N.C., Lowe’s is the second-largest home improvement retailer in the world. For more information, visit Lowes.com.

Replacing a garage door in 2009 and 2010 can do more than generate curb appeal; it also can decrease energy costs and save homeowners up to $1500 off the bottom line of their income taxes.

Thanks to the new 2009 stimulus legislation signed by President Obama on Feb. 17, 2009, U.S. homeowners can earn up to a $1500 tax credit for buying qualifying insulated garage doors.

Full details on the tax credit, along with information about garage door styles and local dealer installers, can be found at GarageWowNow.com, a non-commercial website sponsored by the garage door industry.

Tax credits are available for qualifying garage door purchases placed in service from Jan. 1, 2009, through Dec. 31, 2010. The maximum tax credit a taxpayer may claim from all qualifying improvements combined is a whopping 30 percent of the cost of each product and $1500 over the lifetime of the tax credit periods (2009 and 2010). To be eligible for the tax credit:

The door must be an insulated residential garage door, installed on an insulated garage.
The door’s U-factor must be less than or equal to 0.30, even if the door contains windows.
The door perimeter must be able to control air infiltration.
The door must be expected to remain in service for at least five years.
The garage must be part of the taxpayer’s principal U.S. residence.
A new garage door can also significantly improve a home’s appearance and value. The garage door can comprise a third or more of the home’s front appearance. A stylish new garage door can dramatically differentiate a home and add style, value and curb appeal. A recent online survey revealed that 71 percent of homeowners who recently replaced their garage door believe it definitely increased their home’s value.

To find a professional dealer/installer and the newest garage door styles, visit www.GarageWowNow.com. The site’s ZIP code search function helps homeowners find a local professional who can safely and properly install the door in a few hours. The site also features before and after images that show how new garage doors have dramatically changed the appearance of homes.