Wise Buys

        Roadside beauties: Curbside mailboxes can be less-than-attractive and difficult to protect from drive-by vandals.

        L&M Custom Mailboxes in Erlanger specializes in something pretty to look at that will stand up to vandals and accidents. Owner Lena Manchess, who followed home builder MI Homes into this market from Phoenix six years ago, noticed “people wanted a little bit more” than the standard metal mailbox. Her firm's 2-foot square, 4-foot, 8-inch high “boxes” are made from brick, stone or masonry to match the home.

        “We make an appointment to see the home and create something that may mimic arches or the material the home is constructed of,” she says. It takes about two days to build a mailbox, which costs $500-$750. (859) 491-1549.

        Outside lights: Smart House Numbers, which automatically light with ultra-bright color as darkness descends, or Light Effective Diode (LED), were developed by James Lum of Toronto after he had a heart attack.

        “I created the lights to help people find their way to my house and realized that the lights could help others in an emergency,” he says.

        The 6-inch high numbers come in a 17-inch-wide, 11 1/2-inch-high, 1-inch-deep unit and can be switched to a flashing emergency mode. The weatherproof units with red or amber lights are described as “easy to install” and provide more than 10 years of LED illumination. $347 (discount for buyers over 55) at www.smarthousenumbers.com or (416) 585-2373.

        Friend in the dark: Many children believe there are monsters under the bed that come to life when the lights go out. To keep the bogeyman at bay and quiet youthful imaginations, General Electric has come up with Touch Light Buddiesthat light up when their backs are pressed. They come in four designs — frog, turtle, ladybug and lizard — and there's a goofy story on each as well as a chance to join the Buddy Club at www.gebuddy.com. $5.99 at home, hardware, food and drugstores (four AA batteries not included).

Shop talk

        One-stop advice: When a tornado ripped through the Blue Ash headquarters of Architect's Plus in 1999, founding partners Rick Koehler and Michael LeVally rebuilt their business in a bigger way. They created the Design Center, with tenants from 17 aspects of building under one roof in a 26,000-square-foot facility. Included are Pella Windows, Keidel Bath and Plumbing, Sachi Woodworking, Hyde Park Lumber and Mid-American Pools. It's all at 10816 Millington Court, off Creek Road. 618-3133; www.thedesigncenter.tv.

        Contact Joy Kraft: c/o The Cincinnati Enquirer; phone: 768-8467; fax: 768-8330; e-mail:jkraft@enquirer.com.

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