Serious injuries from falling are an occupational hazard for many older persons. The National Institute for Health and the CDC say that more than one in three people age 65 or older will suffer from a fall in the next 12 months. Aging in place (CAPS) is a program created by the  American Association of…

All shower glass is tempered, which means that it is four to five times stronger than standard glass, and does not break into sharp points when it does break. If it were to break, it would shatter into small oval shaped pebbles, a safety feature that makes it perfect for showers. Tempered glass in shower…

Have your heating system tuned up by a technician. If your home suffers from too many icicles in the winter, a home energy auditor or weatherization contractor can identify and fix air leaks and inadequate insulation in your home’s attic. Have your roof checked for damaged or missing shingles. Have a roofer check for and…

What are the most heavily used rooms in your home? The bathroom and the kitchen, you say? Yes, of course! So it should come as no surprise that these are also the most frequently remodeled rooms in a home. Reasons for updating kitchens and baths run from outdated appliances and fixtures to worn-out surfaces and…

Reasons to remodel are as varied as individual homeowners are. You may be a recent empty-nester, have a growing family, or simply have a hopelessly outdated kitchen or bath. Remodeling can make your home more functional, comfortable and more of a fit for your current lifestyle. Replacing cabinets, fixtures, repainting and installing new countertops help…

Be aware that every inch of space is important, especially in a small kitchen. While there is an almost infinite variability possible in any kitchen, you will still be constrained in your design by the square footage available. If the area is minimal, you will not be able to squeeze in an island – nor…

Most people would probably say they could use more storage in the kitchen. In many cases, what is actually needed is not necessarily more storage, but better use of the area available for storage. Since many homes are built with the bare bones basic cabinetry, the storage can be improved by quite a bit. One…

Have you ever felt a little nervous stepping onto the wet shower floor? Sturdy and stylish assist bars are available to provide a greater level of safety for you and your guests. More companies are offering coordinated bath accessories from tissue holders that double as small grab bars and sturdy towel/safety bars to the more…

We are all individuals, so it should be no surprise that when given the opportunity to re-design our kitchens, each one does it just a little different than everyone else. That said, there are style “types” and many of us may lean toward one particular type in our selection of materials, colors and layout. The…

Second only to kitchens, bathrooms are the next most popular rooms on a homeowner’s remodeling wish list. Although they are the smallest room in the house, bath makeovers can provide an excellent return on investment when you sell. Many studies agree that the return on investment is around 80%. There are many ways to remodel…

  Details add a sense of personal style to your bathroom; select items that stand out and make a statement! Light fixtures, mirrors, pulls & knobs, robe hooks, faucets and towel racks are not just practical necessities, but opportunities to pull your bath’s style together and impress visitors. This photo shows a Bellingham remodel; note…

Meals get made much faster when you can quickly find the ingredients you need. A well designed pantry storage puts all your kitchen supplies in instant view. It is much easier to have almost all your food options in one place instead of going through lots of cabinets to see if you have this or…

Tile in kitchens is used primarily for flooring and for a countertop backsplash. The purpose of said backsplash is more than just functional. Sure, it will protect the wall and provide an easy-to-clean surface that is subject to splatters, but they can be so much more. With materials like hand painted tiles, speckled stones, opalescent…

How do you use your kitchen? Think about that and then decide where task lighting should be. When designing lighting for cooking, be sure to have adequate brightness as well as a good distribution of light around the kitchen and in specific work areas. Ceiling lights can provide the brightest overall lighting, but you will…

You might think this is a simple selection; one basin or two? But oh, no, this is a far more complex decision than that! Issues involve: Material selection Drop-in or undermount Farmhouse style or apron front sinks Number of basins Number of holes Dimensions Material: Enameled cast iron or steel sinks come in a wide…

If your kitchen is small, designing the best layout to maximize your small kitchen makeovers can be a challenge. Knocking out a wall is not always do-able in a smaller or older home. If your yard space or budget is tight, adding on may not be an option either. A professional kitchen contractor can help…

If you have an older home, your toilets may be the old 3.5 gallon per flush (gpf) type. These waste a lot of water, and cost you on your water/sewer bill. Think about how many times a day they are used. Not only will a new toilet look great, but modern ones use much less…

Budget and lot sizes may keep you from adding square footage onto your home, but that doesn’t mean you can’t improve the way you use your home. Many homes have basements that are notoriously under-used. They may be unfinished, or they may serve as an unofficial storage room cluttered with items you rarely use. They…

Harvard Joint Center for Housing Studies published a report this month titled “Housing America’s older adults – meeting the needs of an aging population”.  It is interesting from several viewpoints; one, confirming that in the next 15 years, 1 in 5 Americans will be age 65 or older, and second, “What does this matter to me?”…

If your home is not up to what it could be, and you shudder at the idea of having workers sawing, painting and nailing for months at a time, consider remodeling on an incremental basis. It’s not only easier on your home life, but easier on your wallet as well, as you spread the costs…

When it comes to remodeling, you really don’t want to be doing it during the holidays. Since it takes a lot of planning ordering of materials, getting started well ahead of vacations and family gatherings is a sound policy. There are many styles and trends in kitchen design, but it is important to think about…

In recent years households have been moving toward more flexible uses of space. This includes an open space layout, often with informal family space integrated into kitchen space. Informality in home layouts also has become more popular. Not insignificantly, the trend toward opening up the interior of the home with fewer walls dividing spaces, tends…

Basements can be dark, unpleasant spaces, but a thoughtful remodel can create an attractive space for both recreational activities and storage. Who couldn’t use more storage? Speaking of great ideas like organized storage (where you can actually find what you’re looking for), what about adding either a full bath or a powder room in the…

Upgrading your kitchen is one of the most noticeable – and enjoyable – changes you can make to your home. To start, do your research! A kitchen has many features and functions, and there are thousands of options. You can easily become overwhelmed with the vast array of choices, so do not rush into any…

If you have ever wanted more than a BBQ on the deck, consider having an outdoor kitchen built. Today’s outdoor kitchens are increasingly a mirror of their indoor counterparts, with a variety of amenities that were unheard of just a few years ago. Eliminate the need to go back and forth from the house to…