The downside of the Bloomframe Fold-Out Balcony is the cost which averages from $11,500.00 – $14,500.00.   Each Bloomframe Fold-Out Balcony is custom made so it can be built to your specifications.  Sizes can range from approximately 8’6” long x 3’6” wide.  For more information visit their website at www.bloomframe.com.

The cost effective energy improvements include upgrading of insulation, furnaces, central air systems, and windows.   These improvements will increase the home’s energy efficiency by at least 20%.   As many as 1,000 Illinois co-op homeowners have upgraded to high efficiency air-source heat pumps (doubles energy efficiency – 200%), or ultra-high efficiency geothermal heat pump systems (350% – 400% energy efficient).  By the time the HomE program ends (July 2011), it is anticipated that the equivalent of 20 million kilowatts hours of electricity will be saved each year in Illinois alone.  Additionally, 5,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide will be removed from the atmosphere each year.

If you live in a rural area and are serviced by an electric cooperative, from any state, check out what services and/or rebates are available through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.  Act soon before the funds are gone.

Overall
* Clear the path.
* Do not clutter the room.
* Minimize furniture and accessories/knick knacks – less is more.
* Use cool light colors and monochromatic palette – make rooms seem larger than they are.
* A light color floor gives the illusion of more space and creates a serene environment.
* Lighting – use recessed lighting, places uplights and downlights.
* Hang a flat screen TV on the wall.
* Small print wallpaper makes rooms look smaller, use open flowing designs when installing wallpaper.
* Closets – use closet organizer and mount shelves.

Low Ceilings
* Striped wallpaper or vertical wallpaper will add height to ceilings.
* Grouping of various size pictures arranged in a more horizontal pattern will elevate the feeling of height.
* Sloped ceilings such as dormer roof lines should be painted the same color as walls to minimize sloped effect.

Living Room
* Make use of pieces that do double duty such as coffee and end tables that also serve as storage.

Bedroom
* Utilize space under beds (bedskirts will cover items stored under beds.)
* If you have a loft style apartment – use beds that retract from either the floor or ceiling.

Bathroom
* Expand sink counter top over toilet (will not be a standard size bathroom sink top). This type counter
top will need to be fabricated/cut to designated lengths/widths.
* Use wall hung vanities which do not extend to the floor. Wall hung vanities give an appearance of a
larger room.
* Use shelving or recessed medicine cabinet.
* Limit the amount of towels stored in the bathroom; use over the door racks for towels.
* If you have access to a hall closet, use it for bathroom storage.
* Use one(1) piece of larger art instead of lots of small pieces.
* If using shower doors – trade a frosted glass door for a clear one. Better yet don’t use a shower
door at all – use shower curtains that can be pushed back.

Kitchen
* U-shaped or galley kitchens utilize small spaces wonderfully.
* Install an island at end of a U-shaped or galley kitchen to create an eat-in kitchen while utilizing
the cabinets below.
* Put bills and paperwork in small baskets or boxes.
* Large floor tiles make a kitchen look larger.
* Include a pullout pantry and/or lazy Susan cabinets.
* Create a full wall of cabinets which extends to the ceiling and include a refrigerator in the center
section of space.
* Purchase a counter top depth refrigerator which also has a reduced door swing.
* Install a basic stove range with bottom storage instead of a broiler.

You start up your walkway with an armload of groceries.  You cannot see into your neighbor’s yard because of his “privacy fence,” and this privacy fence does not let you see anything inside the yard at all.  The privacy fence was most likely given its name because property owners don’t want their neighbors knowing too much about their lifestyle….or possibly what goes on over there.  That’s ok.   BUT, as you walk toward your house, all of a sudden, what sounds to be a huge dog pounces at the fence and bellows a deep, vicious, non-stop bark. Your heart skips a beat and nearly stops.  You hear your neighbor yell “no” to his pet several times and the barking stops.  Your heart then drops from your throat back into your chest.  (Why does this always happen when you’re carrying 2-liter bottles of soda?).  Then something snaps in you one day.  “Hey, how come this guy has the right to be private, while I undergo chest pains every night when I come home?  What’s wrong with this picture?  That dog comes from out of nowhere every night and scares me half to death.”

So, neighbors around the world, take into serious consideration, issues of a privacy fence.  How about a privacy fence that allows some exposure if for no other reason at all than to keep your neighbor from having a heart attack when Bruiser, or Killer, or Max decides to lunge like a Stealth bomber into the fence without warning, just to let them know they’re there.

There are a number of privacy fence screen companies to use and compare.  Screening materials come in greens, browns, grays, and whites to name a few colors.  They are exactly what they sound like—screen, but they vary in texture and structure.  They do not give 100% privacy, but are definitely worth researching on the Internet.   The websites are too numerous to mention, but search out “privacy fence screen.”  Many privacy screens add a decorative touch and are less expensive than alternative fencing features, as well.  One of those features includes being able to see that the neighbor’s dog is about to go into Stealth attack mode.

Please let us know what you think about privacy fence screening features.

Because the regulation is so complex, the National Association of Home Builders (www.nahb.org) has developed a 10 step process for complying with stormwater pollution prevention procedures.

1. Determine whether you need a permit.  Submit and post your Notice of Intent (NOI).
2. Prepare and implement a Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP).
3. Install and maintain erosion and sediment control measures.
4. Practice good housekeeping and control all sources of pollutants.
5. Identify responsible parties, delegate and manage subcontractor obligations, and create a checklist of procedures to follow.
6. Conduct and document inspections and correct any problems you find.
7. Keep your SWPPP updated.
8. Minimize tracking of dirt into the streets and provide inlet protection.
9. Know what to do when an inspector shows up.
10. Stabilize disturbed areas and submit your Notice of Termination (NOT).

Outsourcing is an avenue that many residential builders and developers have chosen to ensure that they adhere to and are compliant with these regulations.  But this too can be costly.  As a result, many builders and developers are getting trained and learning how to bring compliance planning in-house.

In recent years, software programs have been designed to help improve compliance with stormwater run-off requirements.   The internet offers many resources for builders seeking knowledge and information about stormwater compliance guidelines.  Here is a couple:   Online Stormwater Training and Certification: Stormwater USA www.stormwaterusa.com and SWPPP Management Software: www.SWPPPinfo.com.

Modular homes and buildings have no design limitations.  They can be any shape or size and will meet or exceed your local and state building codes.  The elevation and design styles are numerous and meet the needs of various regions including traditional suburbs, tropical and coastal areas, mountain settings, as well as inner-city dwellings.  Plans and designs range from simple cottage to two-story mansions in an array of styles such as Cape Cod, Colonial, Ranch, and rustic log cabin just to name a few.

Whether you’re looking for a bigger home or you’re downsizing for retirement, a modular home can give you all the comforts you want in less time and for less money.   Put your signature on it by customizing to fit your needs with name-brand appliances, custom cabinets, stone fireplace and a spa bathroom – the choice is yours.

The myth that “you can always tell it’s a modular” is fading away.  With permanent foundations, attached garages, and wrap-around porches today’s modulars do rival stick-built homes.

There are so many types of gutter guards on the market with similar names, i.e., Gutter Guard, GuttaGard, Gutter Solution, Solid or Diamond Gutter Covers, Gutter Helmet and the list goes on and on.  What is important to know is that some are so easy to install that all you have to do is snap them into your guttering.  They keep the leaves out and let the water flow freely from your roof through the gutters.

Although there are many types of guttering materials, you don’t have to spend a lot to get the job done.  Sure, copper and aluminum look nice, as does galvanized steel, and vinyl, but when planning for the construction, remember the weathering effects, especially of copper, after a few years, as well.

Take a little time out and explore your hardware and home repair shops for their guttering choices, and be ready for next fall before the leaves get the best of you.  And remember, you don’t have to spend your Christmas Savings Club money on the purchase.  A few bucks go a long way when trying to get the most out of your gutters, or should I say, keep the most out of your gutters?

Since the home building market is so aggressive, if you drive around one of these areas you’ll see a lot of “photocopy houses” as well as a lot of “For Sale” signs. Most of these homes will also be valued the same and bring nearly the same price when sold.  That’s why it’s important to put your own stamp on a home. Make it different from your neighbor’s so that it not only has its own charm and personality, but when it comes time to sell, your home has a distinctive look and something different to offer within a suburban community.

Regardless of whether you are building a new structure or remodeling an existing one, a great way to turn your monotonous home building design into something unique is to take a step back in time and go historic. Brand new homes don’t yet have a story or history to tell, so this is when you have the opportunity to create your own stories and your own history. Even if it is a new home building project it can still have an antique feel with the right choice of materials and products.  Invest in some carved woodwork on your staircase or replace a modern window with stained glass to add charisma.  Swap the carpet or linoleum with reclaimed wood floors and install stonework around the fireplace mantel. The finer points show that the homeowner cares about customized details which speaks highly of the home’s overall quality and upkeep and is what will set the house apart from all other home building communities.  By customizing you will stand out from the crowd and will not end up with a “cookie-cutter” home.

There is no doubt that wireless home security alarm systems are becoming the preferred choice when it comes to burglar alarms in the home.  This type of system is very easy for the do-it-yourself installer because you do not have to perform complex wiring.  With a wireless security system, there are very few components and each component is easy to install.

As in everything, however, there are disadvantages to these systems.  Unless you strategically plan out your system prior to installation, it is very likely that some parts of your home will be unprotected.    The reason for this is simple — signals are transmitted by a main control unit.  If these signals are transmitted to a component that has been placed outside its reach, that component will not receive the proper signal leaving that part of your home unprotected.  However, with the proper placement of the wireless sensors in your home, your wireless home security alarm system will be just as secure — if not more so — than a hardwired system.

Another consideration is that wireless systems run on battery power, not on electricity. This can be seen as advantageous because if your electricity goes out or is intentionally cut you are assured that your security system will continue to work. But, if you forget to replace your batteries, then your system is basically worthless.

So if you are planning to invest in one, consider all the options, do extensive research and educate yourself on this matter and make the right choice for your home and personal safety.  Thanks to a large variety of systems and products people can breathe a sigh of relief.

The built in grill was the beginning of the outdoor kitchen trend.  Originally the most common grills were wood or charcoal, followed by gas.  Hybrid grills interchanging between gas, wood or charcoal are gaining popularity for outdoor cooking.  The addition of sinks, refrigerators, countertops for preparing food, and cabinets for storage then became a “must have” for cooking outside.  As more equipment is added, outdoor entertainment areas are becoming larger.  Many even include seating areas either covered or open, fire pits, pizza ovens, trickling water areas, ice makers, keg-tappers, wine chillers, and outdoor TVs.   However, no matter what you add to the outdoor kitchen, the grill remains the king.

Since the existing economic downturn, people are spending more time at home and are starting to upgrade their homes with outdoor kitchens.  This trend is becoming very strong, especially in warm climate areas where outdoor living is a year-round feature.   Preparing a meal outdoors is not a dreaded chore but an occasion and a reason to have friends over and enjoy the experience.