Happy New Year! It's hard to believe that a year ago I wrote an article "What's Hot And What's Not For 2010". I had such a huge response to this piece that I thought it was only fitting to share a similar version of the home building, renovation and design trends that are topping the charts for this year.
Going green extends beyond plumbing. If you own an older house, it is likely that your electrical panel is not properly equipped to handle the amount of energy that modern life demands. Call your local electricians today to find out if you require an electrical panel upgrade. An archaic, practically prehistoric electrical panel is not only grossly inefficient, but it can also be dangerous! The residential electricians who come to your home will not only be able to switch out your panels so you can enjoy a safer home, lower energy bills, and better service, but they can also help with services like energy-efficient lighting installation. Your older lights can be using more energy and money than is truly necessary, but switching to CFL bulbs or even LED lighting can help eliminate inefficiencies. That's a waste that neither you-- nor the Earth--can afford!Re-designing your home's overall layout and introducing some Universal Design principles into your renovation could include wider doorways, main floor master suites, and user-friendly kitchens and baths. These subtle tweaks make even the smallest homes feel more spacious and appeals to an enormous segment of the population -Baby Boomers and Gen Xers alike.2. Family Room Additions. (75% ROI)For more information: http://plumbing-heating-minneapolis.mn-biz.com/The current scene is definitely green. Energy efficiency is fast becoming the hottest and most desirable trend or "shift" in the home design and building industry. You can go all the way and completely reduce your carbon footprint or simply begin by introducing energy-efficient windows, lighting, appliances, tank-less water heaters, low-VOC paints, stains and sealants into your next home renovation or building projects.With the trend of downsizing our homes comes the idea of expanding our interior living spaces to the outdoors. Homes with charming porches and decks naturally transition the interior to the exterior instantly expanding your living space. It extends the summer season almost forcing us to live outdoors before the really cold weather sets in. Porches can define a neighborhood, and recapture a sense of community.1. Major Kitchen Remodels. (ROI 75-85%)For more information: http://electrical-contractor-boca-raton.fl-biz.com/site/services/service/Residential-Electrician-Boca-Raton-FLIt takes time to switch to a green lifestyle. But like everything that's worth doing, the hardships and adjustments pay off in the end. Call your local electricians and plumbers today to see the impact that you, John and Jane Q. Homeowner, can have on the world around you!Work Spaces.Endangered species. Global warming. Greenhouse gases. Carbon footprint. There are so many different phrases used to talk about environmental issues these days that it can be hard to understand where you fit into the puzzle and what you can do to help. It seems like green is the hip, responsible way to go, but you're not a biologist or a celebrity. What kind of impact could you possibly have on the melting Arctic ice caps and adorably helpless koalas from your comfortable home in Suburbansburg?Since most home-based businesses must co-exist with families, separating the living and working environments can be a challenge. If you're lucky enough to have a separate guesthouse, a detached carriage house, or space above your garage then designate that space for the ideal office location. Otherwise, like the vast majority of home-based businesses provide a space within the home itself - an unused bedroom, space beneath a stairway, or corner of the kitchen or family room. Either way - select an area where noise and traffic are at a minimum and privacy is optimum!Rooms are becoming more multi-functional than in years past and therefore it's more important than ever to maximize every inch of space - within the existing footprint - and provide creative and integrated storage solutions throughout your entire home. Less clutter and greater organization will contain your "stuff" and still allow your home to feel more spacious and uncluttered.Easy maintenance, high quality materials and integral smart systems make for an easy transition for the changing family. Integrating state of the art or "Smart" technology into our homes is a very hot trend that continues to blaze. It's about making our lives easier. Controlling kitchen appliances, lighting and your entertainment systems from a centralized panel will soon be foreshadowed by the apps from our smart phones where we'll be able turn on our lights, have our fireplace crackling and our dinner cooked to perfection the moment we walk through the door. Sign me up!With a one-year extension of energy efficiency tax credits, it only makes sense to take advantage of this offer and incorporate these products along with more durable and sustainable materials when you're updating your home.Whether you're customizing a recently purchased home, making the changes needed to update your existing space or are simply interested in increasing the overall value of your home, keep these ideas in mind when tackling your 2011 home improvement projects.Decks can be as simple or elaborate as the home they're attached to. Multi-leveled or single, built in seating or casual seating areas, hot tubs, outdoor kitchens, and fire pits - all of which create added living space and provide a vacation-like atmosphere. Design your porch or deck to compliment the character of your home's exterior architecture. Give it some thought in planning. It should be proportionate to the size of your home and property and make sure to include energy efficient solar or LED lighting.WHAT'S HOT:For more information: http://plumbing-heating-minneapolis.mn-biz.com/site/services/service/Faucet-and-Toilet-Repair-Minneapolis-MN
Keeping abreast of these home design trends will help guide you when it comes time for you complete your "to do" list. Families grow, people mature and our needs change. It's all about re-inventing your home making it feel as though it was built just for you.
Author: Lori Gilder
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