Page 106 - Blog

If you are anything like me, you prefer to leave all “technology purchases” to the Man of the House. Not that I can’t do it – after all, I did buy my own iPod and figure out how to use it! But generally speaking, I figure it’s just part of a man’s DNA to know WHAT to buy, WHERE to buy it, and HOW to make it work. Besides, I don’t want to hear about it if I make a mistake! Imagine my hubby’s surprise when he walked in to find a new 52” plasma TV lift cabinet for his birthday! I decided to follow the WHAT/WHERE/HOW formula myself. Try it!

WHAT – TV lift technology has been around for years. First introduced as a state-of-the art innovation to luxury hotels and casinos, it is now accessible to the average Jane. The concept is simple: When you want to watch TV, push a button and your television “pops up” from a piece of furniture (ours is housed in a beautiful mahogany armoire) and with another button push, it “disappears” when TV time is over!

WHERE – TV Lifts are available from a variety

It's Earth Day and that means that it's time to start considering what you can do to help Mother Nature. If you're looking to get a new TV lift cabinet or if you just want to switch from a TV cabinet or stand to a wall mount, then don't just focus on what's new. You can be helping the environment by taking a look at what's old and on its way out. Instead of just tossing your old TV cabinet to the curb for trash day, consider some of these easy ideas for recycling your furniture.

First and foremost, look into ways to donate your furniture. You'll get a tax write off and you'll be able to help a shelter, charity, or other organization that's in need of furniture to furnish a home, office, or other facility. Look for options in your community or coordinate with local charities to find the best way to donate your furniture.

Or, you can also consider repurposing or refinishing your TV lift cabinet as a unique table in a foyer or office space. Play around with different finishing treatments,

A plasma TV can be a great addition to any home, but like any other piece of electronics, it needs special care. Here are some tips from ImportAdvantage.com on how to care for you plasma TV.

First off, let it breathe. Plasma screens generate a lot of extra heat, which means that if there’s not enough ventilation and cooling around the TV, it’ll burn out electrical components sooner rather than later. Make sure that your TV has plenty of open space around it and check in the manufacturer guide for tips on venting.

Second, keep it dry. Exposure to excessive humidity, spills, and other moisture can destroy electrical parts in your plasma TV and can cause damaging corrosion. Keep it a room that doesn’t change temperature rapidly.

Finally, make sure your TV has a solid foundation – or piece of furniture – to rest on. ImportAdvantage.com carries a great selection of TV cabinets and plasma TV stands that are perfect for keeping your TV steady and safe from falling.

You watch your TV almost every day. You spend hours in front of it each week. When was the last time you actually looked behind it to see the condition of its wires? Chances are, if you’re like most people, you’ve probably put it off – until now.

Checking the power cord for your TV or any of the other wires and cables that run between it and your home entertainment equipment can ensure that you’re on top of any frays or problems that could compromise performance, not to mention, cause a fire. Frayed wires or cables that are in poor condition need to be replaced to keep your home safe and your home theater setup running at its best.

So take some time today to check your wires. Look to see their condition. Find out if they need to be replaced and do it before it causes a major problem in your living room.

Most of the TV Lift Cabinet models we have at ImportAdvantage.com have traditional stained wooden finishes.  Although a nice piece of wooden furniture can look beautiful, we understand that there are some home decors that just don't blend well with the color of the wooden cabinets.

That is why we are proud to offer the Coastal Creations TV Lift Cabinet. It is finished in a beautiful white linen that will allow it to easily fit in a lot of decoration patterns.  It also helps to give off a coastal, cottage, or antique appearance.

Like most of our models, the Coastal Creations TV Lift Cabinet comes with the TV lift mechanism which can easily raise and lower the TV into and out of the cabinet.  The heavy-duty rack and pinion drive system will ensure that the process goes a smoothly and silently as possible.  The infrared relay remote system allows you to still input commands with your remote without keeping your cabinet doors open.

So make sure to visit ImportAdvantage.com if you think

Customers frequently say that they are not sure if they can mount their TV to the lift. How difficult is it they ask?

Mounting a TV to our TV Lifts is extremely easy. All of the tools to mount the TV are included (one wrench, two bolts, and some spacers). Simple! We made it so simple, it is almost impossible to make a mistake.

How long you ask? We have timed a few couples on how long it takes them from disconnecting the TV base to finishing the mount to the lift. Average times are 30 minutes.

Still intimidated, purchase our 'Premiuim Tech Install' and we will mount the TV and your equipment.

If you are thinking about adding a TV lift cabinet to your home, may we recommenced the Banyan Creek TV lift model?

The Banyan Creek TV lift cabinet is expertly finished in a warm brown that compliments the grain of the wood.  It is a beautiful addition to any home or office.

This particular model also allows for a great deal of customization.  Not only are there ample drawers and compartments for all of your audio and visual devices, but our infrared remote technology actually allows you to use your remote without opening the cabinet doors.   Our system actually relays the remote control command from your remote and into the cabinet, making things more convenient for you.

Also, the center cabinet door panels are exchangeable.  The model comes with wooden panels, glass panels, and speaker cloth panels so that you can customize the look of your piece of furniture.

So if you are considering a TV lift cabinet, make sure to check out the Banyan Creek model, available at Import Advantage

So you've been to the Import Advantage website and you are intrigued by the idea of a TV lift cabinet.  You like the convenience of being able to lower your television into the safety of the entertainment center.  You like being able to have the decision to control what is on top of your cabinet.

But you realize that most of the TV lift cabinets are pretty big.  These serve as a nice entertainment centers, but perhaps you were looking for something for a bedroom or an office.  Perhaps you were looking to add other pieces of furniture and needed a smaller unit.

We've got you covered.

If you want the same convenience and safety that a TV lift cabinet provides, but takes up a smaller space, consider a Foot of the Bed TV Lift.  These lifts are more akin to dressers.

These units are beautifully finished and several colors of wood are available so that you can match the TV lift to your home décor.  Make sure to check out all of the selections at Import Advantage.

Have you been fortunate enough to inherit some of the furniture in your home? If so, lucky you! You probably have some beautiful, hand-crafted heirloom pieces, handed down throughout your family, with wonderful stories and memories attached to each! And what about you partner? Did they also inherit meaningful pieces from well-intended relatives? Again – lucky you! Or, maybe not…

Of course you love the connection and sentiment each piece brings to you, your family, and your home, but “too many hand-me-downs” can make your décor appear like something Sybil (from the 1976 biographical film about a girl who had multiple personalities?) might have created! Yikes! What to do?

While it may be difficult to integrate Great Aunt Edna’s pristine mahogany curio cabinet with Great Uncle Frank’s pine wagon-wheel coffee table – all within the confines of your family room, help is here...in the form of TV lift technology!

State-of-the-art TV lifts bring your family room into the 21st century – regardless

Spring is still a little ways away, but why not get yourself in the mood by starting a little spring cleaning?  It would be better to get it done now while the weather is still less than pleasant.  You wouldn't want to spend the first nice day of spring inside scrubbing and sweeping.

If you do plan on getting a head start, don't forget to clean an important part of your home that often gets overlooked:  your entertainment center.  Below are a few tips to consider so that you can make your entertainment center both clean and organized.

1)Take Stock:  Most people keep their DVD/VHS/Blue-Ray Disc collection in their entertainment centers.  Take some time to make sure that all of the actual discs are in their right box and that all the boxes are in their right spot. Perhaps you could go through your collection and remove the movies that you don't want as often and move them to a storage location. Keep your center up to date with your current trends.

2)Check Behind:  You'd be surprised