by Bob Margulis, Ravenworks Joinery Congratulations, you have decided that your green remodel will include a new kitchen! This article is designed to help you understand what that means and make you a more informed consumer. Before we look at…
There’s an increasing buzz around green building – and for good reason. There are many benefits to revamping your home using the tools of the green building trade, including financial savings, improved home health, upgraded appearance, and increased value. If you are considering a remodel, it’s worth taking a look at the benefits of remodeling green.
How do you define home? For Ma & Pa Ingalls in Little House on the Prairie, home was four walls and a roof that protected them from the elements. However, today’s home is much more than that – it is a sanctuary, a place to build community, to work, to play, as well as a place to express who we are and the values by which we live. It is this last attribute that seems to be at the epicenter of today’s homebuyers shopping list. We are not talking about gingerbread window trims or turret shaped entries but rather how energy/water-efficient a home is as well as how easy it is to maintain – in an essence, how our homes impact the environment as well as our wallets and what that says about us as consumers.
There is nothing like the great outdoors. Bringing the outside in is a design trend that continues to gain momentum - from outdoor kitchens and three-season patios/decks to textural tiles that mimic natural stone and includes patterns from nature such as leaves and flowers. Additionally, designers and homeowner alike are using color in wall finishes, flooring and countertops to create a seamless transition between indoor and outdoor environments.
Lead-based paint was used in more than 38 million homes until it was banned for residential use in 1978. For those renting, buying or renovating a pre-1978 home, receiving a copy of the EPA's Lead Pamphlet is federal law, and duly warns against things like letting your children chew on the windowsills. Lead has been shown to affect children's brains and developing nervous systems, causing reduced IQ, learning disabilities, and behavioral problems, and is also harmful to adults. Lead in dust, which is often invisible, is the most common way people are exposed to lead.
by Kylie Loynd, The Polishing Stone When my husband entered the house he uttered one word, “fiberglass,” and headed straight for the shower. I knew Kurt must have spent the day in someone’s attic. Working with this type of insulation…