Wow With The Hardware

- most hardware collections come in a variety of sizes, check them all out. A long handle maybe the answer vs. a standard pull.

- review finishes & feel at a showroom

- consider pulls with mixed materials such as glass and metal

- use the same hardware in nearby areas such a 1/2 bath, utility room or mud- area

- another trick is to use non-traditional placement of handles. 

Improve a Rooms Visual Value

By adding a well planned customized storage and workspace area to a room you not only increase its visual value but will most likely increase how much your family enjoys the room. 

Thermal Break - The Original

"DuPont™ Tyvek® HomeWrap® is the original house wrap, incorporating unique material science that helps keep air and water out, while letting water vapor escape. As a result, it can contribute to improved building durability by helping to protect homes against damaging wind and rain that can penetrate the exterior cladding. This can also reduce home energy cost by controlling air flow and water intrusion which helps the HVAC system work more efficiently and insulation to perform closer to its full R-value." 

Community Preferences

These community aspects are important when homeowners were surveyed about why they want to stay in their current residence.

66% being near friends and family
46% being near parks and areas where it's easy to walk
32% being near work or volunteer locations
65% being near where one wants to go
48% being near church and other social organizations

Staying Put

AARP discovered that 80% of homeowners between the ages of 45-65 are planning on staying in their homes while retired. They also listed the following items as important considerations for future home modifications.
- lever style door knobs
- shower entries without steps
- wider or reduced steps at doorways
- more stable handrails
- first floor master bedrooms & baths
- bathroom aids ( grab bars, taller toilets)

Water not always a good thing

Broken or ruptured water lines and drains can caused major damage along with huge disruptions to your daily lives. Check your hot water heaters, HVAC units, water filters, ice makers, dishwasher & washing machine supply lines for signs of leaking or deterioration. If there's anything that doesn't look right call your plumber for a 2nd opinion. Most repairs are quick and inexpensive if caught ahead of time. Drying things out, replacing flooring and drywall can really become overwhelming fast and not to mention very expensive.

Exterior Trends

Here are a few things that I've been noticing:
- a desire for higher-end materials when doing repairs and replacements.
- colors continue to play a important role with pulling things together.
- clients want to know more about low maintenance material alternatives.
- texture and trim are being used for added detail and to create character.

Improve the feel

According to a recent survey by Houzz to Home 86% of homeowners are motivated by the desire to improve the look and feel of a space when considering a remodeling project. 47% are inspired by the idea of increasing overall home valuation.

Lacquered handrails and steps

Applying a black lacquered finish to existing stained handrails, newel posts and stair treads creates a updated look by providing contrast to surrounding hardwood flooring and painted spindles. The addition of a stairway runner can add texture while also reducing the risk of slipping on a smooth hardwood surface.

Fogged and damaged windows / doors

Insulated windows and doors can begin to fog and condensate allowing them to become very unsightly. There are multiple replacement methods to resolve these problems that don't require complete window or door unit replacement.

Countertop rejuvenation

Properly cleaning, polishing, honing and sealing will put life back into natural stone countertops that have seen better days.

Citrus colors are it for sunny rooms

Lime greens and lemon yellows are showing up more often in sunny rooms kitchens and breakfast areas. Using a soft sheen vs. a standard flat finish highlights these paint shades by adding some reflective properties.

Texture

Using texture in home design changes everything so look for the variations in surface appearance and feel when mixing materials on both interior and exterior projects. Traditionally this has been done using fabrics and accessories inside the home but we now find the mixing of nature stone and recycled glass products in both bath's and kitchen's. Outside we see wrought iron and rough cut lumber mixed along with both natural and cultured stone work. Have fun with your selections, remember smooth isn't always so slick.

Winter Home Selling Advise

A local Realtor that I know gives the following advise to his clients who are thinking of selling their homes in January:


Although the traditional home-buying season starts in the spring, here are some reasons why listing your home now, rather than waiting, could prove to be a smart decision.

On average, the number of home sales in January drops almost by half from the previous year's peak. A house that is priced right and staged well will stand out even more with less competition.

Lenders, home inspectors, movers, and other vendors also see a seasonal dip in transactions. This could mean a quicker, easier, and possibly cheaper time to buy, sell, and move.

Even if you're not ready quite yet, now is a great time to start the conversation with your local real estate agent. He or she can give you pointers on which repairs and preparations to tackle first, and which ones may not be necessary, saving you time and money. Starting now can help you capture the most buyers by busy season.

Crawlspaces can hide things

A homes crawlspace isn't somewhere that most venture into, but I'd suggest doing it sometime. If nervous to "go-down-under" ask us or a friend to do it for you. As you can see there be things going on that only can get worse.

Interesting Sinks

Sinks may not be thought of having a design element that you can build a room around but they do. Here are a few that caught my eye.

Faucets to Sinks

Knowing where to go and who to work with can help make it a whole lot easier. Many builders have speciality wholesalers and designers that they can connect you with so be sure to ask.

Kitchen Updates

Kitchen updates can be fun to start and even more fun to finish! Good planning gets you there so working with a team that can bring all of the components together and keeps you engaged will make it happen.