Archive for the ‘Remodeling’ Category

Homeowners Look to Future-Proof Their Homes

Thursday, April 9th, 2009

Sustainable home design trends and technology are moving forward even in the economic down turn. For many homeowners, it is not an option to start over and build a dream home around the latest sustainability technology trends. That said, many people are looking to make modifications to future-proof their current homes.

Sustainable renovation and retrofitting is not always an easy job, financially or physically. So what are the most popular measures consumers are taking to update their habitats? Replace, Refinish, Refresh is the new Reduce, Reuse, Recycle in the home design space.

Photo Courtesy of Ecohomeguy.com

Replace: Homeowners can substitute almost any performance piece in their home for a modified or sustainable one. Everything from light bulbs to energy efficient washers and dryers fits in this category. Another easy and thus popular update is replacing old inefficient windows to save on heating and cooling bills. These are items that homeowners can replace and benefit from immediately.
Refinish: This applies to the structure of the rooms in a home. Modifications include repainting walls with low VOC paints or taking down old wallpaper and put up prints on organic paper. From the walls to the floors, many are replacing carpet with organic materials like cork and bamboo flooring.
Refresh: Here homeowners look to the different textures and design elements in the home. Replace furniture, rugs and window treatments with pieces made with organic fabrics and recycled materials. Sustainable accessories are always a quick and inexpensive update to the home.

Future-proofing renovations are a mix of DIY and DIFM projects but should still be relatively simple renovations. Updates made to modify should not be quick fixes, but created and installed to last. The focus is on quality, accessibility and simplicity. Be the expert and the advocate for your audience; encourage and enable them to update their home by providing a product that is a strong addition to their future-proofing tool kit.

Tags: DIY, Future-Proofing, home design, organic, renovations, retrofitting, sustainability
Posted in DIY, Green, Remodeling | 4 Comments »

Top Five Remodeling Projects Homeowners Are NOT Tackling This Year

Wednesday, April 8th, 2009

Earlier this week, we identified the top six remodeling projects that homeowners have planned for the coming months, according to a recent survey.

Yesterday, one of the presenters at the HIRI 2009 Spring Conference identified the top five projects that homeowners are NOT planning to undertake this year, given the economy. While many people might like the idea of replacing their siding, for example, this is the type of project that will most likely be placed on the back burner because it is expensive and not something that can be accomplished by the average weekend warrior.

According to The NPD Group, Inc., the projects that fall into this category include:

Exercise room renovation/addition
Attic modification
Heating/cooling updates
Electrical/plumbing adjustments
Siding replacement

Given the fact that homeowners are focusing on simple, affordable updates that will beautify their living spaces and enhance their daily lives, it is no surprise that the above projects fall to the bottom of the list.

Based on we know about how Americans are adjusting their purchasing habits and lifestyles by spending more time at home to save money instead of going out, it safe to assume that if a project does not directly involve a key room of the home OR at least guarantee increased resale value, homeowners are going hold off.

Tags: HIRI 2009 Spring Conference, Inc, NPD Group, top remodeling projects, weekend warrior
Posted in DIY, Remodeling | No Comments »

Remodeling Sentiment Report Uncovers Homeowners’ Remodeling Plans

Monday, April 6th, 2009

The spring 2009 RemodelorMove Remodeling Sentiment Report, a semi-annual survey of 5,000 U.S. homeowners, reveals that nearly 70% of participants will most likely remodel their homes this year.

According to the report, homeowners’ remodeling plans include :

Kitchen Remodel – 52%
Bathroom Addition – 55%
Bathroom Remodel – 45% 
Bedroom and/or Den Addition – 35% 
Garage Addition – 19% 
Finish a Basement – 13%

It’s not surprising that kitchens and bathrooms continue to top the list for home remodeling projects. According to Remodeling’s 2008-2009 “Cost Versus Value” report, the average national cost recouped when a homeowner completes a major kitchen remodel is 76%. It is even higher — 79.5% — for a minor kitchen remodel.

“We are seeing people remodeling with general cabinets, but spending more on their countertops and backsplashes to provide the accent,” shared Wayne Weintraub, Kurtis Kitchen and Bath Centers, in a recent interview in Detroit News. According to Weintraub, today’s typical homeowner is more cost-conscious and leaning toward more sleek and simple designs for kitchen remodels.

Additional homeowners’ remodeling plans include green remodeling projects, according to the Harvard Joint Center for Housing Studies. This study suggests homeowners will try to save money and the planet with green remodeling, dubbed “regreening.” Projects under this umbrella include design and construction that reduces the environmental impact of the work itself. That includes the impact on energy, water, and materials consumption; waste generation; and harmful emissions — indoors and out — according to the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC).

Photo Courtesy of This Old House

Photo Courtesy of http://www.tremaincorp.com/products/

Tags: homeowners, remodeling plans, Remodeling Sentiment Report, RemodelorMove, USGBC
Posted in DIY, Real Estate, Remodeling | 4 Comments »

Inspiration Fit For Any Remodeling Project

Wednesday, April 1st, 2009

When it comes to designing a home or even remodeling just one room, there are plenty of ways for homeowners to find inspiration. Between all of the gorgeous magazines and blogs dedicated to helping people beautify their homes, a person could spend weeks flipping through stunning photography and gathering ideas that could be incorporated into their own living spaces.

Mydeco makes it easier than ever for homeowners to act as their own interior designers with their Moodboard application. The tool allows users to create their own moodboard by using the mydeco database or uploading their own photography. What makes this tool even better is the fact that it is free and intuitive.

Take a look at fun examples created by users or even design your own.

Photo Courtesy of Mydeco Moodboard

Tags: interior design tools, Moodboard, Remodeling
Posted in Remodeling | No Comments »

Preservation Green Lab – Saving Us from the Next Slums?

Thursday, March 26th, 2009

Complements of the National Trust for Historic Preservation

Seattle Mayor, Greg Nickels, and National Trust for Historic Preservation President, Richard Moe, announced the development of Preservation Green Lab—an initiative that will lead the way in creating innovative sustainable development policies for existing buildings and neighborhoods. Read more.

Now place this announcement against an article published exactly one year ago in The Atlantic that posed the question, “The Next Slums?” The article took a hard look at the rapid development of car-based suburbs and their impracticality in the face of the resource shortage America is quickly approaching.

Preservation Green Lab offers a solution to this question, with the ability to preserve existing homes – many of which showcase exquisite craftsmanship and detailing – new development of endless concrete suburbs just might be rechanneled toward retrofitting and “future-proofing” the surplus of housing and neighborhoods we already have.

Other resources that point toward a new trend in improving and reusing the homes and neighborhoods we’ve already built:
•    ASID and USGBC’s REGREEN Guidelines
•    Sarah Susanka’s new influential book, Not So Big Remodeling
•    New home stores dedicated to the green-savvy DIYer

New ways of building, or rather, preserving, means new opportunities for innovation – building and home product manufacturers have an opportunity to encourage homeowners and homebuyers to drive the movement by offering new products and clear messaging that encourages preservation as opposed to demolition.

Maybe this is just what we need to save our suburbs from the slums.

Tags: ASID, Green Building, Greg Niickels, Historic Preservation, National Trust for Historic Preservation, ReGreen, The Atlantic, USGBC
Posted in Green, Remodeling, Trends | 1 Comment »

The Power of Color

Monday, March 23rd, 2009

As consumers deal with the recession by cutting costs on everything from haircuts to home remodeling projects, retailers and manufacturers are using color to attract customers in a whole new way.

Today, color is being applied to nearly all consumer products from handbags, appliances, cars, electronics and furniture. While retailers hope to attract customers through vibrant end caps and product displays throughout their showrooms, manufacturers are also looking to eliminate the “sea of sameness” and appeal to their customers’ sense of style.

Photo courtesy of appliancist.com

While the average American consumer is carefully watching every penny they spend, the hope is that they may splurge on items that make them feel good.

Trend experts agree that applying color to products is a smart and timely move for manufacturers given the fact that people want to be cheered during this current economic downturn.

The Boston Globe recently referred to paint as an “anti-depressant in a can,” which makes sense when you think about how colors like yellow, orange and red can literally boost your mood and instantly evoke feelings of warmth and happiness. Likewise, color palettes that incorporate shades of blue, green and beige can bring to mind a calm, serene feeling.

Although neutral shades like white and beige remain the top-selling interior paint colors, homeowners are undoubtedly becoming more adventurous. Whereas bright colors may have been reserved for the areas of the home where the children played at one point, homeowners are now incorporating bold hues in main living spaces such as the kitchen and living room.

In fact, when Benjamin Moore identified its “hot colors” for 2009, the company’s experts chose St. Elmo’s Fire 362 yellow as the “it” color for interior décor because the hue is “evocative of flickering firelight” and “conveys a sense of optimism about what lies ahead.”

Luckily for homeowners, painting a room is a relatively inexpensive but very powerful way to update the look of the space. While the major remodeling projects will most likely have to wait for a few more months, painting is a task that any weekend warrior can tackle without breaking the bank.

Tags: color, Paint, Remodeling
Posted in DIY, Features, Home Decor, Remodeling, Trends | 1 Comment »

Downsizing America

Thursday, March 19th, 2009

A Look Inside the “Bigger is not always better” Philosophy

Photo courtesy of inspiredaustin.com

In her most recent book, “Not So Big Remodeling,” Sarah Susanka emphasizes that bigger is NOT always better when it comes to designing, building or remodeling a home. In fact, Susanka claims that a space that is about “one-third smaller than you thought you needed “can evoke the feeling of “home” that we all crave. The trick is to fill the space with special details and personal touches so that it is customized to meet your daily needs.

According to a recent article in USA Today, Susanka is not alone in her “not so big” philosophy. As outlined in the article, homebuilders and homeowners alike are noticing a shift in average home sizes as more and more people reevaluate their living habits and realize that they simply do not need a large home.

Additionally, CEPro reports that recent data from the U.S. Census Bureau shows that the average size of a new home in Q3 2008 dropped 9% from Q2 2008.

There are three main reasons why people are adjusting their views on the average home size and determining that a house under 2,000 square feet will do just fine. These reasons include:

People are dedicated to the “green” movement and actively looking for ways to make a difference. That said, people are more willing to live closer to their jobs so that they can walk to and from work, even if it means living in a smaller home.
Consumers are more creative and educated about interior design techniques than ever before. As home/design TV shows, magazines and blogs continue to grow in popularity, homeowners will continually learn how to make the most of any space, no matter what size it is.
Photo courtesy of Targetwoman.com
Homeowners are budget-conscious and constantly looking for ways to save money. If buying a smaller home means saving on monthly utility expenses, chances are that homeowners will opt for the smaller, more cost-effective house.

To ensure that your marketing strategies are in-line with this changing consumer landscape, consider the following:

Establish your sustainability message, keeping in mind that consumers are savvy and have learned to see through “green-washing.”
Clearly communicate how your product or service will help your customers do more with less. Even if your customers need to spend money on the front end, it is essential that they see the value in their purchase immediately.
Help your customers visualize how your product will improve their space. Inspirational photography, free color swatches/samples and configuator tools on your web site will go a long way in selling your product.

Tags: average home size, Green, Remodeling, U.S. Census Bureau
Posted in DIY, Features, Marketing, Real Estate, Remodeling, Trends | 2 Comments »

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