Tag Archives: best

Apr 30

Maryland & Washington, DC’s Best Pick Home Service Companies Published

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Washington, DC (PRWEB) April 02, 2013

Independent research firm EBSCO Research has published its annual home services guide, Best Pick Reports. The report highlights A-rated home service companies in the Maryland and Washington, DC metro area. The featured companies represent over 40 different home service categories, including electricians, roofers, HVAC, and plumbers. Inclusion in Best Pick Reports is exclusively through invitation.

Best Pick certification requires an A-rating based on over 100 telephone interviews conducted by the in-house research staff. The company conducts thousands of these interviews each year with homeowners who have had recent experiences with local home service providers. All companies must also hold proper insurance and licenses required by the state. In addition to meeting EBSCO Researchs standards, every company must requalify each year in order to be considered for the distinction again. Congratulations to the following Maryland and Washington, DC companies that received the 2013 honor:

A Cleaner Carpet Cleaner

Airwiz Clean Air

Amazing Heating & Air Conditioning, Inc.

American Pest

American Windows & Siding of VA Inc.

Annapolis Painting Services

Appliance Repair Leaders

AquaGuard Waterproofing

Arundel Cooling & Heating Company Inc.

B.O.G. Pest Control

Bay Breeze Heating and Cooling, Inc.

Benchmark Painting & Carpentry, Inc.

Benjamin Franklin Plumbing

Better Than Wood

Blades of Green

Blake & Sons Moving & Storage, Inc.

Central Glass, Inc.

Central Roofing, Siding & Windows Co.

Certified, Inc.

Closet America

Colonial Electric Co., Inc.

Connor’s Termite & Pest Protection

CroppMetcalfe

East Coast Landscape Design

Extra Clean, Inc.

Fred C. Johnson Co., Inc.

Gaithersburg Garage Door Inc.

Grove Heating & Cooling

Gutter Helmet Systems

Hands On Painters, Inc.

Harry & Sons Roofing

High’s Chimney Service Inc.

Hydro-Tech Irrigation

Interior Guards

Interstate Irrigation & Lighting

James A. Wheat & Sons

James L. Graves Construction

James Vito, Inc.

JJM Home Improvements

Junk King

KEVCO Building Services Inc.

Klappenberger & Son

Kolb Electric, Inc.

Len The Plumber

Maid Bright

McKendree Moving & Storage, Inc.

Metropolitan Exteriors, Inc.

Mulheron Tree Experts, Inc.

NV Waterproofing

O’Connor’s Painting Service, Inc.

Preferred Siding, Inc.

Professional Parking Lot Striping Inc.

Pure Air Service LLC

Purofirst of Metropolitan Washington

Roof Masters

Rothstein Designs, LLC

Super Lawns

Superior Steam Cleaners Inc.

The Arborist Inc.

The Care of Trees

The Davey Tree Expert Company

The Hardscape Store

Thompson Creek Window Company

Tri-County Fence & Decks

TriStar Electric

Trunnell Electric

Ultimate Flooring Design Center

Value Dry

Welsh Roofing Company, LLC

Wilcox Electric, LLC

Williams Professional Painting

Window Nation

Windows Plus, LLC

Winston’s Chimney Service

Your 1 Plumber

EBSCO Research is a division of EBSCO Industries Inc. and, as an independent research firm, has been documenting the performance of home service companies since 1997. EBSCO Research publishes annual reports to aid homeowners in what can be a difficult search for quality contractors and home service providers. As General Manager Greg Robb recently wrote, The sole purpose of our business is to legitimately identify the best companies in an industry often known for producing more than its fair share of unsatisfied customers.

The Best Pick Reports publication not only profiles top-rated companies, but it also features industry insight and helpful tips that homeowners should know before starting a project. To reach homeowners with this valuable information, EBSCO Research delivers thousands of copies of Best Pick Reports to Maryland and Washington, DC homes through direct mail each year. The research results, insight, and tips can also be found at BestPickReports.com, where homeowners can request a free hard copy of Best Pick Reports.







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Mar 31

Houstons Best Pick Home Service Companies Published

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Houston, TX (PRWEB) March 07, 2013

Independent research firm EBSCO Research has published its annual home services guide, Best Pick Reports. The report highlights A-rated home service companies in the Greater Houston metro area. The featured companies represent over 30 different home service categories, including electricians, roofers, HVAC, and plumbers. Inclusion in Best Pick Reports is exclusively through invitation.

Best Pick certification requires an A-rating based on over 100 telephone interviews conducted by the in-house research staff. The company conducts thousands of these interviews each year with homeowners who have had recent experiences with local home service providers. All companies must also hold proper insurance and licenses required by the state. In addition to meeting EBSCO Researchs standards, every company must requalify each year in order to be considered for the distinction again. Congratulations to the following Houston companies that received the 2013 honor:

A Affordable Insulators

Abacus Plumbing & Air Conditioning

Advantage Pro Services

Airchampion Air Conditioning, Inc.

AirPro Air Conditioning & Heating

Alvin Garage Doors

Arbor Care, Inc.

Benjamin Franklin Plumbing

Benjamin Franklin Plumbing

Blue Water Irrigation Systems, Inc.

Braun’s Roofing, Inc.

Brinkmann Roofing Company

Clean As A Whistle, Inc.

Premier Kitchen & Bath

Dawson Foundation Repair, Inc.

Design Carpet Company Inc. Flooring America

EnviroCon Termite & Pest, Inc.

Flaherty’s Flooring America

Garland Insulating Ltd.

Greenup, Inc.

GutterMaxx, LP

Home Exterior Systems, LLC

Ideal Roofing, LLC

Mister Sparky Electrical Services

Junk King

LeafGuard Gulf Coast

Majestic Air Conditioning

Master Services, Inc.

MET Plumbing

Nature’s Pest Solutions

ONE HOUR Air Conditioning & Heating

P.E.M. Enterprises, Inc.

Pickett Plumbing, LP

Power Vac America

Mister Sparky Electrical Services

R.B. Hash & Associates, Inc.

Shower Doors of Houston

Slater Gate & Fence

SpaceMan Home & Office

Spectrum Painting, Inc.

Action Garage Door Repair Specialists

Sun Masters Glass Tinting

Sunset Glass Tinting

Trim Electric, Inc.

Trutech LLC

Universal Home Experts

Village Plumbing & Home Services

Westheimer Tree Experts, Inc.

Wired Electrical Services, Inc.

Wonderful Windows & Siding

EBSCO Research is a division of EBSCO Industries Inc. and, as an independent research firm, has been documenting the performance of home service companies since 1997. EBSCO Research publishes annual reports to aid homeowners in what can be a difficult search for quality contractors and home service providers. As General Manager Greg Robb recently wrote, The sole purpose of our business is to legitimately identify the best companies in an industry often known for producing more than its fair share of unsatisfied customers.

The Best Pick Reports publication not only profiles top-rated companies, but it also features industry insight and helpful tips that homeowners should know before starting a project. To reach homeowners with this valuable information, EBSCO Research delivers thousands of copies of Best Pick Reports to Houston homes through direct mail each year. The research results, insight, and tips can also be found at BestPickReports.com, where homeowners can request a free hard copy of Best Pick Reports.







Feb 12

Best Mattress Brand Blog Releases Guide to Mattress Toxins and Healthy Mattress Tips

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Tempe, AZ (PRWEB) January 23, 2013

As consumer interest in green products continues growing, more and more shoppers are searching for ways to make their homes healthier. With this in mind, mattress blog Best Mattress Brand created a simple guide on common chemicals in beds and suggestions for safer sleeping.

The article is titled How to Detox Your Bed & Get a Healthy Mattress, and begins by introducing two main categories of toxins found in mattresses: VOCs and fire retardants. Both of these have been high on consumer advocate and environmental watchdog groups agendas in the last couple years, though many people are still unaware of their presence and risks.

Volatile organic compounds, commonly known as VOCs, include paints, glues, preservatives and wide range of other household products. The post notes how these substances off-gas particles into the air over time, often noted by odors like the smell of fresh paint or new furniture. In mattresses, they are often present in glues, foams, and treated wood. The side effects can range from negligible, to headaches, nausea, organ damage, and possible even cancer, though many VOCs have received very little regulation or scientific scrutiny regarding their long-term safety.

Fire retardants also remain a source of ire for advocates of natural products, as mattresses are now required by law to meet certain flammability guidelines. While the regulation is designed to reduce the risk of bed fires, manufacturers are not well-regulated regarding the chemicals used to meet the standard, and are not required at this time to disclose fire retardants used. Many of the concerns are the same as with VOCs, in addition to endocrine and reproductive system disruption.

The article closes with recommendations for consumers on choosing a healthier, non-toxic mattress. Options highlighted include plant-based memory foam, all natural latex mattresses, and waterbeds with naturally-derived vinyl. In particular, the blog highlights Amerisleeps voc-free memory foam which utilizes bamboo rayon fire barriers and eco-friendly manufacturing practices.

For shoppers seeking to purchase a new mattress or make their homes healthier, the post provides useful and helpful information. The blog also offers other recent posts likely to be of interest to consumers, including top luxury mattress brands, top adjustable beds, and notable up-and-coming brands. Upcoming planned topics include reviews of luxury pillows and popular mattress brands.

BestMattress-Brand.org is a mattress research blog designed to provide information to mattress shoppers. With a mission to make bed shopping easier, editors provide unbiased assessments of manufacturer claims and customer satisfaction. The blog also features industry news and brand reviews based on first and third party research, and offers weekly newsletters for subscribers.







Dec 22

Books Make the Best Presents – THUNDER BAY PRESSs Suggested Titles for the 2012 Holidays

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San Diego, CA (PRWEB) October 30, 2012

Thunder Bay Press, a leading publisher of high-quality gift books, is excited to announce their top book choices for the 2012 Holiday season. From sports legends to rock music, to learning to draw Disney characters, Thunder Bay Press has the perfect gift: A good book.

For Literary lovers, young and old:

The hot selling Word Cloud Classics are new editions of classic literature with a clean, modern aesthetic twist. Each book has heat-burnished covers and foil stamping and comes in popular color schemes with high quality, matching end papers. Retailing from $ 14.95 – $ 16.95 each, these high-quality editions provide a chic, yet inexpensive, introduction to these timeless literary tales. A few of the 12 titles include, Great Expectations (ISBN: 978-1-60710-552-7), Jane Eyre (ISBN: 978-1-60710-553-4), Little Women (ISBN: 978-1-60710-548-0), Pride and Prejudice (ISBN: 978-1-60710-554-1), Sense and Sensibility (ISBN: 978-1-60710-555-8), Les Miserables (ISBN: 978-1-60710-816-09) and Anna Karenina (ISBN: 978-1-60710-815-3)

For the Sports Fan:

With stunning photos and insightful information, Ali: Portrait of The Greatest of All Time (ISBN: 978-1-60710-569-5) offers a definitive look at the man and the legend- Muhammad Ali. From his conversion to Islam to his opposition of the Vietnam War, every aspect of this fighters life is discussed and illustrated though beautiful photos. Additionally, the fighters iconic quotes are sprinkled through out the book showing Ali from every angle.

For the Music Lover:

John Lennon played an Epiphone Casino. Dave Grohl of Nirvana and Foo Fighters so loved the Trini Lopez so much that Gibson created a signature model of it for him.

Theyre the biggest and baddest axes in the worldand theyre all in this book. The Guitar & Amp Sourcebook (ISBN: 978-1607105657) by Mike Abbott, is an illustrated history contains the most important guitars and ampsthe ones that have rocked our world and changed history. Get the skinny on the most popular models, the vintage pieces, and the rare beauties, as well as brand comparisons like Gibson vs Fender, recommendations for the best beginner equipment, and a listing of the guitars used by popular musicians.

For the Artist:

With all the memorable movies Disney has released over the years, it’s little wonder that so many people are huge Disney fans. Learn to draw favorite characters with the simple, easy-to-follow instructions in Disney Art Studio (ISBN: 978-1607105770) and Pixar Art Studio (ISBN: 978-1607105787) With instructions on how to use the drawing tools, as well as a simple, step-by-step instructional book, both of these books make drawing accessible, so artists of any level can learn to draw intricate characters like Buzz Lightyear, Mickey Mouse, Mater, and Cinderella with confidence.

Each set includes: a 80-page drawing book, 3 watercolor paints, 2 paintbrushes, a palette, a drawing pencil, 7 colored pencils, a fine-line marker, a kneaded eraser, and a sharpener.

For the Body Art Lover:

Getting a tattoo is all about really connecting with an image or idea and wanting to make it a permanent statement in your life. Helping to prepare as much as much as possible before the procedure takes place, makes Tattoo-Pedia (ISBN: 978-1607105664) the perfect resource. Tattoo-pedia includes thousands of designs to choose from when picking a next–or very first–tattoo. A tattoo style is a personal thing, and this beautiful and easy-to-use guide will help enthusiasts figure out how much creative control they need and how much money they want to spend.

About Thunder Bay Press:

Thunder Bay Press (http://www.thunderbaybooks.com) is an imprint of Baker & Taylor Publishing Group, the largest distributor of traditional and digital media in the world. Thunder Bay is a collection of coffee table-style reference books suitable for gift-giving on the subjects of art, architecture, pets, cooking, travel, culture, hobbies, religion, transportation and nature. Thunder Bay Press is perhaps most known for its best-selling Then and Now series.







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Aug 16

Drawing by Gayle Madeira is Competition Winner in Strokes of Genius 5: Best of Drawing/Composition

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New York, NY (PRWEB) July 28, 2012

Charcoal drawing by Gayle Madeira titled “Dan Eberle” is one of the winners of the Artists Networks Strokes of Genius 5: Best of Drawing | Composition. The drawing will appear with the other winners in the Strokes of Genius book which will be published by North Light Books in September 2013. The volume will include the work of 93 artists and will be composed of a collection of drawings executed in various dry drawing media that exemplify excellence in composition, everything from quick sketches to detailed pieces.

Gayle’s winning drawing titled “Dan Eberle” was originally commissioned by filmmaker Dan Eberle and was included in his recent award-winning independent film titled Prayer to a Vengeful God. Drawn from still photographs, Madeira created intimate black and white portraits of each of the eight main characters capturing the essence of the film roles portrayed in the artworks. Each image acts as a marker beginning a new chapter of the film. Madeiras work is further integrated into the narrative through the female lead who plays an artist whose work is actually Madeiras. In her stark portraits, Madeira conveyed the drama depicted in the film, which explores the contrast between comfortable domestic existence and the dark world of drugs, violence and murder, perhaps suggesting the fine line between the two. As a result of the artists contribution to the film, Madeira has received several private commissions, one of which was a portrait of New York financier Barbara Huduck commissioned as a gift from her husband.

An internationally recognized professional artist and dancer who grew up on a farm in Northern Virginia, Gayle Madeira explores her fascination with the physical body through both media. In the words of the artist: I am obsessed with figures and giving them the most honest representation that I can in artistic form. As a painter, she shows an exceptional attention to detail and applies techniques that distinguish her work. Her black and white charcoal portraits on gesso board, like those featured in the film possess both painterly and graphic qualities. In these highly detailed, to-scale, tightly cropped portraits, every hair and wrinkle is visible. From afar, it is possible to mistake the drawings for black and white photographs. Upon closer inspection, the lines and shading, the trace of the hand, becomes apparent. Madeira has been working in this particular medium since 2009. She is also known for her animal portraits in watercolor which she creates using a unique dry-brush technique, and in oil paint. Madeiras work has been exhibited extensively in New York City and throughout the United States.

Gayle Madeira’s website: http://www.gaylemadeira.com







Aug 10

Online Men’s Fashion Blog Announces Their Top 5 “Best Dressed Cities in the World” List

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San Francisco, CA (PRWEB) August 09, 2012

Bows-n-Ties.com, a prominent online retailer and popular fashion blog, just released their Top 5 list of the “5 Best-dressed Cities in the World”. While two American cities make this exclusive list, with NYC earning the top spot, the series focuses primarily on international cities that have been putting both mens and womens fashion on the map for decades.

It should come as no surprise to anyone who pays close attention to the fashion industry why weve chosen to highlight these cities as being the five most fashionable in the world, says Bows-n-Ties.com founder Hendrik Pohl. After all, these cities have been veritable fashion capitals ever since the industry first came into its own, and its safe to say at this point that nothing is likely to change in the future. While some of the choices may seem obvious, these cities made our list for one simple reason; each and every one is at the forefront of modern fashion.

Each piece in the series begins with an overview of the city being focused on, as well as why it was chosen as one of the five most fashionable in the world. The pieces then highlight two specific characteristics of each citys fashion and style, as well as a paragraph detailing what tourists can expect to see upon visiting.

A lot of our readers are people who enjoy traveling as often as possible, says Pohl. We wrote this series with them in mind, as just about anyone can benefit from having a clear idea regarding what to expect while they are on vacation. This is especially true for people who are traveling on business, in which case fitting in with the crowd can be quite important.

This isnt the first time Bows-n-Ties.com has published article series relating to best-dressed and worst-dressed cities/countries. Just recently, the site published a series highlighting the ten worst-dressed cities in the world, which included Helsinki, Maui, Ottawa, Sydney and Bucharest among others.

I think its important for us to convey the fact that were not publishing these series to hurt anyones feelings or cause controversy, says Pohl. The worst-dressed pieces are all in good fun, while the best-dressed articles typically focus on all that is good in the industry at the moment. Its all about presenting as many sides as possible in order to paint a clear picture of modern fashion.







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Jul 25

A Selection of Modern Bathroom Vanities with A Little Vintage Flair to Make the Best of Both Worlds is Introduced by HomeThangs.com Home Improvement Super Store

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(PRWEB) July 21, 2012

HomeThangs.com the Home Improvement Super Store has made their goal to deliver the right product to the consumer, with that in mind, shopping and home design tips, as well as special product selections are being introduced.

Some homes are so architecturally distinct that they dictate the way to design inside. Victorian, Cape Cod, cottage style, and ranch homes all come with set, expected interior decor, just to name a few. But if a home doesnt conform to any particular structural form, there is a lot more freedom to choose any decor. Although, it can be difficult to choose a single style, and effectively executing an eclectic design isnt easy. Especially when it comes to bathroom design, many people are torn between decadent vintage styles and a simpler, sleeker modern design. The opulence of a period bathroom is great for a little R&R, but modern bathroom design often makes for a cleaner finish.

HomeThangs.com introduced a selection of bathroom vanities that combine both styles – they have all the minimal, slightly surprising design expected from modern bathroom vanities, but are made in simplified antique and vintage shapes for a modern take on classical elegance. Designers at HomeThangs highlighted the key elements of successfully mixing the two styles together.

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Mar 29

'The Banjo Player' painting is Best of Show

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'The Banjo Player' painting is Best of Show
This year's Best of Show honors in the Phillips County Arts Council's recent show go to Sheila Phelps of Peetz with her oil painting entitled “The Banjo Player.” Best of Show and Best of each level art pieces are pictured from the March 23-25 Phillips …
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Li Ying's exhibit highlights landscape and coastal paintings
By Ashley Ulrich, The Dartmouth Staff Spring artist-in-residence Ying Li's brightly colored oil paintings and austere charcoal drawings will be displayed in the Jaffe-Friede Gallery in the Hopkins Center from April 2 to May 6, highlighting her many …
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Semi-Nude Painting Smuggled Into Canadian Museum
It took a while, but guards at Canada's Glenbow Museum finally noticed a new acquisition in the gallery: An oil painting of a semi-nude woman. An anonymous note said the donor's late father did the painting and had always wanted his work in a museum.
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