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"What does it take to win us over? Innovative ideas and daring designs. So when it came to choosing stellar items for our 10th annual Building Product Awards, we scoured the market and came up with these gems.    leather texture surfacing with microban Silestone These quartz countertops\u2014which mimic the supple feel of leather\u2014feature Microban, an antimicrobial substance that inhibits the growth of bacteria, yeast, mold, and fungi. The benefit to you? Better stain protection, fewer odors, and a more sanitary kitchen. Cleanup is easy: Just wipe the surface with soap and water. In 23 colors. $60 to $100 a square foot, installed. 800-291-1311, silestoneusa.com.    paloma fireplace heat &amp;amp;amp; glo Gas fireplaces have turned up the heat, designwise. This sleek freestanding unit has a curved firebox, so flames are visible from almost any angle in the room. Bonus points go to the battery-powered backup system, which keeps the model&amp;#039;s electric ignition working even during an outage. These stainless steel hearths won&amp;#039;t just warm up your space, they&amp;#039;ll also brighten it: Their front panels come in blue, bronze, green, and gray, shown. $2,399. 888-427-3973, hearthnhome.com.    engineered collection wood floors Mirage floors These planks come in three hip new stains: Java (coffee), Merlot (dark purple), and Sambuca (black), shown. The flooring is made of engineered wood\u2014prefinished maple or birch adhered to five layers of plywood\u2014so it&amp;#039;s ideal for heavy-traffic areas such as kitchens, and reacts less dramatically than solid hardwood to high humidity and climate changes. $7 to $15 a square foot. 800-463-1303, miragefloors.com.    watertiles Kohler Obtrusive showerheads have met their match. These 5-inch-square water-spraying tiles install nearly flush with the ceiling or wall for a streamlined look. If you&amp;#039;re installing more than one, hire a pro to ensure that your water pressure and plumbing can support the system. In six finishes; polished chrome, shown. $119 to $172. 800-456-4537, kohler.com.    72-inch three-door fridge perlick Use this multizone drinks station to mix cocktails without leaving the party. Pretty enough for your family room, the stainless steel cabinet contains a freezer with a rack for chilling glasses, a fridge with fully extendable shelves, and storage space for an impressive 48 bottles of wine. Sorry\u2014bartender not included. In freestanding or built-in models; custom wood overlays available. $5,499 to $7,999. 800-558-5592, bringperlickhome.com.    stainless steel roofing millennium tiles Although your roof might be the last place you&amp;#039;d expect to find stainless steel, these recyclable, interlocking tiles not only look cool, but also lower the temperature inside your house. Heat reflects off these shingles, reducing air-conditioning bills up to 35 percent. And unlike the runoff from asphalt roofing, the rain and melted snow that slides off these smooth surfaces is clean enough to reuse in your garden. Custom colors available. $360 to $660 a square foot. 866-842-8585, millenniumtiles.com.    dual fuel range with steam-assist kitchenaid Become a healthier eater with this stainless steel gas, electric, and convection range, which features a steam option to produce moist roasts\u2014no basting necessary\u2014and crusty loaves of bread. $4,099 (30-inch; four burners) and $6,299 (36-inch; six burners). 800-422-1230, kitchenaid.com.    ace sensations paint ace hardware Magic Marker on the wall? No sweat. This flat paint features Scotchgard stain protector, so soap and water are all you need to wash off anything on it, from Sally&amp;#039;s scribbles to grape juice. Because an anti-mildew agent is added to the formula, it&amp;#039;s ideal for moist areas such as the bathroom. In 1,000 shades; custom colors available. $27 a gallon. 866-290-5334, acehardware.com.    four-door convertible fridge samsung Entertaining just got easier. This four-door unit features two bottom drawers that can serve as mini fridges or freezers, depending on whether you need to chill hors d&amp;#039;oeuvres or prepare bucketfuls of ice. Use the touch-screen LCD to adjust each compartment&amp;#039;s temperature from -13\u00B0F to 50\u00B0F. 25 cubic feet. In black, stainless, and stainless platinum, shown. Starting at $2,999. 800-726-7864, samsungusa.com.    densarmor plus interior wallboard georgia-pacific Whether caused by a leaky pipe, a humid bathroom, or Mother Nature, mold has the potential to wreak havoc in your home. So we&amp;#039;re glad that this new gypsum wallboard is made of glass matting, which resists mold, rather than conventional paper, which fuels its growth. $10 to $15 a (4x8) sheet. 800-284-5347, gp.com/build. See Resources Read past editions of our Building Product Awards: 2004 American Building Product Awards Home Magazine scours the market to bring you the year&amp;#039;s 12 best building products Home Magazine&amp;#039;s Annual American Building Product Awards 2003 Our editors scope out the 12 best building products (so you don&amp;#039;t have to) The Home 100 American Building Product Awards For most of us, our homes are works in progress\u2014places we build or rebuild, rearrange, modify, or redecorate as our lives evolve. To help you, we&amp;#039;ve dug into our Rolodexes and come up with our list of 100 hot tips, trade secrets, private finds, and hidden addresses that few people know. Whether your home is a classic Colonial or a rambling ranch, clip our list and use it to locate that one-of-a-kind find that will help make your renovation dreams come true. "^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
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