Buzz: Product News Roundup, Hot Hues Edition

2013’s trendy colors, life-saving air conditioning, inspiring islands, arguing against spray foam, and other product news from the past week.

• Perhaps primary colors are more your style? Try these strategies for working with basic blue, red, and yellow.

• Though it takes its fair share of knocks for inefficiency, air conditioning is now being called a lifesaver, as a study reveals it has helped cut heat-related deaths by 80%.

• From country chic to modern sleek, these 20 kitchen islands will inspire.

• 13 reasons Treehugger thinks foam insulation doesn’t belong in green buildings.

• Perhaps NanoSonic’s Hybridsil is an exception to these concerns? The new 100% silicone-based foam insulation claims to be less toxic than spray polyurethane foam.

• Researchers in Spain have devised bricks made from paper-production waste.

• Can’t get enough products? Peruse Residential Architect magazine’s most popular products and product collections of 2012.

Image: Other design by Austin Interior Designer Jennifer Ott