“Interior design news & notes: toilet app; green decor; and the survey says ...”

Interior design news & notes: toilet app; green decor; and the survey says ...

Posted: 26 Jan 2011 11:16 AM PST

Published: Wednesday, January 26, 2011, 10:43 AM Updated: Wednesday, January 26, 2011, 11:03 AM

THERE'S AN APP FOR THAT: The folks at American Standard have jumped on the smart phone app craze, creating a system that will allow you to test the flushing power of their toilets.

Yes, you read that right.

The free Toilet Challenge App lets users choose golf balls, kid's clay, cat litter, chicken nuggets, hot dogs or bananas to see: "will it flush?"

They claim it isn't just fun and games.

"The results of the flushing challenges are derived from actual product tests, so users who are shopping for a toilet upgrade can simulate tests and be confident that the American Standard toilet they select will deliver years of high performance without the need for a plunger."

Well, that's a relief!

EASY GREEN: A new eco friendly interior design site, Green America Decor, or GAD, has launched to supply eco-friendly materials to trade professionals and the public.

At GAD, you can see and buy products, including recycled fabrics, PVC-free wall coverings, recycled, nylon carpeting and energy-efficient window treatments

"The interior design industry, from home decorators to architects to purchasers, plays a huge role in promoting a sustainable lifestyle. Finding genuinely 'green' products can be difficult in this day of green washing, which is why we are here: to make it easy," says Cesar Costa, chief executive officer.

GET IT TOGETHER: According a survey by the folks at OfficeMax, working Americans say disorganization is harming their state of mind, happiness and even their relationships.

Check it out.

New year, new outlook: With the New Year comes self-assessment of old habits and new beginnings, and 68 percent of Americans admit they are lacking in organization and can use improvement. Yet, many have hopeful expectations for 2011. Forty-six percent believe they'll be more organized this year than they were in 2010.

Cluttered space, cluttered mind: A cluttered space isn't only frustrating to look at; it's apparently affecting our mood. Ninety percent of Americans admit that disorganization at home or work has a negative impact on their lives. Their productivity (77 percent), state of mind (65 percent), motivation (53 percent) and happiness (40 percent) are negatively affected when they are not organized.

Your coworkers may be judging your desk: A messy desk isn't just affecting your attitude; it also affects the image you convey to others. Fifty-three percent of those surveyed admit to thinking negatively of their coworkers with messy desks. In fact, professionals who see a colleague's cluttered workspace reportedly assume that person must be lacking in other aspects of his or her job (40 percent) or simply think lower of their colleague overall (13 percent).

Don't look in there!: Many Americans admit to being ashamed of their disorganization and worry about people dropping by their home or office unannounced for fear of seeing their disarray. The areas people are most ashamed of anyone seeing include their desk or workspace (35 percent, bedroom closet (28 percent), or desk drawers (12 percent).

-- Bridget A. Otto

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Wednesday, January 26, 2011