Just because it's almost Christmas doesn't mean it's too early to think about spring.
Fans of David Kirk will be happy to hear that the characters from his Miss Spider children's books will be featured in a new line of products at Target. The Sunny Patch line includes a line of garden products for kids, home decor and apparel.
Kids who want to dig in the dirt will enjoy Green Bug and Ladybug Kneepads ($4.99), the Miss Spider watering can ($7.99) and the Red Bug Pail ($7.99).
They can also decorate their rooms with pop-up storage bins ($12.99) featuring Butterfly, Miss Spider, Bee and Caterpillar, and stepstools and rockers featuring ($19.99) Lily Ladybug, Miss Spider and Grasshopper.
Sunny Patch products will be available in stores early next year.
Detect a silent killer
As the weather gets colder, we rely on such devices as fireplaces, gas ovens and stoves, space heaters and furnaces to keep us warm. But they can also increase our risk for carbon monoxide poisoning.
According to the Centers for Disease Control, carbon monoxide -- a colorless, odorless gas -- is the leading cause of accidental poisoning deaths in the United States. To stay warm and still keep your risk low, consider installing a carbon monoxide detector in your home.
Kidde, manufacturer of home safety products, has developed the Nighthawk Digital Display carbon monoxide alarm, which in addition to sounding an 85-decibel alarm if carbon monoxide is detected, also updates its digital display every 15 seconds. The alarm's memory recalls the highest level of carbon monoxide detected, allowing workers to react appropriately in case of emergency.
The Nighthawk is available at hardware, home center and mass merchandise outlets for about $45.
For more information, call 800-880-6788 or visit www.kiddesafety.com.
The shape of the modern bathroom
"Streamlined" and "edgy" aren't usually the first words that come to mind when discussing bathroom fixtures. But industrial designer Philippe Starck might change that with his new line of fixtures for Duravit, called Starck 3.
Starck took his inspiration from the square, creating washbasins that feature a comfortable-sized bowl as well as plenty of counter space. The sinks come in 19-, 22-, 24- and 25-inch widths, and furniture washbasins are available in 31 1/2 - and 39 1/2 -inch widths. The pieces range in price from $135 to $695.
The Starck 3 collection also includes wall-mounted toilets ($575-$640), equipped with a dual-flush system, which lets the user choose between a 3- or 6-gallon flush for more economical water usage.
All of the fixtures in the line are available in Alpin (white) and Pergamon (off-white), as well as with the easy-to-clean Wonder-Gliss finish.
The Starck 3 fixtures can be ordered by calling 888-387-2848 or visiting www.duravit.com.
Home Front welcomes interesting home and garden news. Please send suggestions to Liz Atwood, Home Front, The Sun, 501 N. Calvert St., Baltimore, MD 21278, or fax to 410-783-2519. Information must be received at least four weeks in advance to be considered.
Event
* Through Dec. 31, the Historic Annapolis Foundation will feature holiday decorations. In honor of its 50th anniversary, the foundation's properties will feature golden lemons, ribbons and nightly illumination. Included with admission to the properties, Monday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. and Sunday noon-4 p.m. No reservations required. Check out the William Paca House (186 Prince George St.), Waterfront Warehouse, Shiplap House, Old Treasury Building, 10 Francis St., 99 Main St., Museum Store and the Barracks.