Remodeling During Difficult Market Times

A tight economy means most American homeowners are keeping close watch on their budgets, cutting spending on frivolities and extras. 

For this reason, many folks have opted to put large-scale projects, such as kitchen and bathroom remodels, on the back burner for the time being.  Even a Wisconsin Home Improvement Expert has informed his clients to make smarter updates today and larger updates tomorrow.  But, they haven’t completely stopped updating their homes. Homeowners are still forging ahead with improvements, but they’re allocating hard-earned dollars to smaller projects -- ones that not only boost their home’s overall appeal, but also provide other added benefits in the long run. 

Increasingly more home improvement products deliver more bang for the buck by delivering multiple benefits … a must in today’s increasingly frugal economy. But being budget-conscious doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice quality and performance in the home improvement arena. From high-performing wall paints to sophisticated thermostat controls, and everything in between, today’s home products work smarter -- not just harder -- with modern budgets in mind. 

Interior paint is one home improvement product that has made the significant “smart” advances in recent years. Today’s environmentally-minded coatings offer little or no ozone-damaging (and odor-causing) volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in a wide range of colors and finishes, ideal for any decor. These low-odor paints make easy -- and less smelly -- work of painting. 

Some paints, such as Dutch Boy’s new Refresh paint offer zero VOCs and take things a step further. Thanks to the inclusion of proven Arm & Hammer odor-eliminating technology, Refresh paint helps remove common household airborne odors from kitchens, laundry and family rooms, bathrooms, nurseries and basements. This paint also provides excellent hide, scrubbability and durability, keeping walls looking fresh and attractive for years to come. 

Heating and cooling controls also offer multiple benefits. The average American household spends $1,400 a year on energy bills, according to the Alliance to Save Energy. A simple programmable thermostat that controls temperature on both heating and cooling systems keeps a home at the ultimate comfort level and helps maintain the most efficient temperatures all day long, boosting overall energy efficiency while decreasing utility bills. 

Lighting systems also have become smarter. They can be designed to restrict energy output through controls and sensors. They also can feature such long-lasting, energy-saving lamps as light-emitting diodes (LEDs) or compact fluorescent (CFL) bulbs. All of these technologies provide quality light, cut energy usage and save homeowners money. 

In the kitchen, appliances are amazingly more efficient. Some stoves, for example, can communicate remotely with homeowners via email or cell phone text messages, providing alerts if they have been left on. Users can then remotely turn off the appliance using an Internet interface.

Kitchen Remodeling: The Missing Links

Often times residents in Orange County choose to have beautiful remodeling jobs completed in their kitchens. Whether they go for a Tuscan, French or ultra modern look, there are no prettier kitchens in the world, than the ones you find in Orange County. From Newport Beach to hills of Anaheim originality, beauty and uniqueness are all fair qualities used to describe the kitchens of the O.C. However there are some small additions that many homeowners could use to make their kitchens shine with beauty. Here are my top recommendations.

Window coverings:

Oftentimes because of the year round sunlight, residents in the Orange County often neglect to add window treatments. However adding curtains, blinds or even solar beam protection can take the look of your kitchen to a professional level. The details of window treatments go a long way and are often forgotten in the kitchen.

Their signature piece:

What is a kitchen without a signature piece? Having all matching appliances is the norm, but why not consider adding a metalic backsplashes to bring out your kitchen's personality. Other ideas could include fresh flowers or antique pots and pans. The choices are unlimited to adding your show piece.

Use boring knobs and pulls:

This site is all about Orange County kitchen cabinets but most remodelers don't think enough about spending an extra $100 to really make their $20,000 remodeling job stand out. Look for pulls and knobs that are unique and speak to your personality. You can find many knobs online that are not available at the big box retailers.

Remember whether you want to add cow patterned curtains, real silver kitchen cabinet knobs or a small fish bowl be sure to make your kitchen uniquely yours.