The 20-story W.T. Waggoner Building in Fort Worth, Texas, was constructed in 1919 and remains on the Register of Historic Buildings. After repainting the exterior of the old wood windows every four years, building owners sought a lower-maintenance window replacement solution. When asked about options, the team at Marvin determined that the look of the existing jalousie window assembly was achievable with a one-wide, two-high operating awning configuration. Marvin’s standard 70% Kynar 500 exterior clad finish satisfied their need for low maintenance.

Not only did the building experience enhanced energy efficiency but the new dual-pane windows provided reduced sound transmission. The owners were also satisfied with the installation process that preserved the interior trim and was conducted from the building’s interior, reducing the need for scaffolding and minimizing disruption.

Project Highlights

• High performing, low-maintenance product finish that replicated the look of the existing windows and eliminated the need for repainting
• Successful installation solution that maintained the daylight opening and preserved the interior trim
• Non-disruptive interior installation that allowed for “business as usual”

Tastefully Incorporating Televisions
Houzz.com
Design ideas for placing TVs tastefully. Unfortunately, they can be an eye-sore sometimes. “There are many tasteful ways to incorporate televisions into living rooms, it just takes a little extra planning and foresight. The ultimate solution is to hide it away when not in use, or flush mount it inside the wall or built-in cabinet. Not everyone has the budget for custom solutions, so read on for a mix of good ideas that will have you watching in style.”

We tried it: Using a remote design service
Shelteriffic
“I’ve been intrigued by the idea of “remote” interior design services for some time now, and I recently decided to give it a try. I wanted to get a designer’s reaction to our master bedroom because I was having issues with color and needed help with finishing touches to pull it all together.” Here’s how it went…

Remodeling Rules Have Changed
Charles & Hudson
“The Joint Center for Housing Studies at Harvard has announced that in 2010 remodeling will increase 5% over 2009. This would mark the first increase since 2006. Great news for all of us in the home improvement business. But the key factor to note from this study was not the minor increase but more why people are choosing to remodel.”

4 Cool House Projects for the Whole Gang
CalFinder Blog
“If you prefer a root canal over tackling home improvement projects, then it may be time you take a less conventional approach. How about getting your family or group of best beds to keep you company while lightening your load? Here are some home improvement projects perfect for the whole gang.”

Photo courtesy of Houzz.com and Jacobs Design

There’s been a lot of ink spilled lately about alternative energy on a macroeconomic scale. But what about ways you can use these new forms personally?

It seems like every other cornfield now has been given over to wind energy. No doubt these massive structures can provide great benefit to companies and cities. If you wanted to experiment however, it was a little difficult. But now there are some options.

Looking similar, though on a smaller scale than the average wind turbine, the Proven Energy 2.5 kW 300 V Wind Turbine Grid Tie can be used for personal energy usage. As Luxury Housing Trends points out, it’s not cheap, but the company’s promise of their product powering a three-bedroom house (minus heat) might make it worthwhile over the long run.

For an wind energy option that provides less power but is small enough to go on the roof of your house, check out our recent profile of the WindTronics wind turbine, which was on display at this year’s International Builders Show.

Also via Luxury Housing Trends, we have a new option for solar power. It’s an easy, low-maintenance kit. According to the site, the Sunforce 39626 160-Watt High-Efficiency Polycrystalline Solar Power Kit has “weatherproof solar cells…made with an aluminum frame and tempered glass coverings to ensure that they’re durable enough to withstand the elements. This kit comes with two 80-watt polycrystalline solar panels, a 200-watt power inverts, a 30-amp digital charge controller, a voltage tester and a wiring kit with mount accessories included.”

Have you thought of using wind energy, solar power or other forms of alternative energy in your home?

Photo courtesy of nualabugeye on Flickr

Just as January often tests the quality of a home’s insulation and heating, August tends to be the month of truth for a home’s cooling systems.

According to the U.S. Department of Labor, Americans spend on average 7 percent of their annual income on utilities. It’s no wonder we’re always looking for ways to save a few dollars, especially in the warmest summer month where the utility bill — and the heat — can keep you up late at night.

Tom Kraeutler, host of The Money Pit, recently shared a list of economical tips and tricks to help you keep your utility bill low as the temperatures rise. Here are a few items often overlooked:

• If your air conditioning equipment is getting old (and therefore less efficient), you might actually make money by trading up to Energy Star-qualified AC units and systems. Installing a new system now can compound your summer energy savings with valuable tax credits and local utility rebates that are available until the end of this year.
• Seal all duct seams to keep that hard-earned cool air from escaping into dead ends. As much as 20 percent of circulating air is lost to leaks and faulty connections, but a bit of your time and some mastic sealant or metal (UL 181) tape is all it takes to seal ducts in attics, basements and crawlspaces.
• Strategic landscaping will have your home made in the shade, so add and maintain trees on the south and west sides to help shelter and shield the sunniest sides of the structure.

If you haven’t the time for a landscaping job or AC replacement before the next heat wave, think smaller.

Check out the latest product from Dyson – the Air Multiplier. These bladeless fans draw in air from the base and amplify it 15 to 18 times. This product has drawn a lot of buzz at tradeshows with its sleek design and unique function. Dan Neil of the Los Angeles Times wrote, “It functions beautifully and looks great too. This thing is flat-out brilliant.”

To show how the product works, the team at Dyson created this video which shows the device drawing and amplifying air. Check it out:



Re-use, reduce and recycle. Lately, the fourth “r” in that series could be “reclaim.” Using reclaimed materials in your home can not only be green, but it can provide a stellar conversation piece and the chance to own something truly unique.

One of the most popular uses of reclaiming is reclaimed wood. Where does this wood come from? Almost anywhere. We’ve heard of wood being reclaimed from the bottom of a river, as well as the more usual practice of reclaiming from an older home.

And the reclamation craze goes beyond wood! For period-appropriate pieces and fixtures, there’s nothing better than an original in need of a new home.

Re-Nest recently featured a kitchen that has lovely cabinets made from reclaimed Douglas fir. Most of the glass used in the cabinet doors is also reclaimed. The builder and owner, George Ramos, made a conscious effort to use green materials, such as a sustainably sourced mahogany countertop, even when reclaimed ones weren’t available.

Please check out Re-Nest’s post to learn more!

Images courtesy of Re-Nest

No matter if you’re a hasty seller or a proud homeowner, the benefits of upping your curb appeal can pay huge dividends. A few tweaks and upgrades can make your home a quick sell or the envy of the block.

Here’s the good news: Small alterations can make a big difference. Better Homes and Gardens has assembled a great list of 20 simple, cost-effective improvements to help boost your property’s curb appeal. Even better: You won’t need to quote a team of contractors. These are DIY projects to help your place make a stunning first impression.

Among the projects you could knock out in one weekend:

• Replace old hardware. House numbers, the entry door lockset, a wall-mounted mailbox, and an overhead light fixture are all elements that can add style and interest to your home’s exterior. If they’re out of date or dingy, your home might not be conveying the aesthetic you think it is. These elements add the most appeal when they function collectively, rather than as mix-and-match pieces. Oiled-bronze finishes suit traditional homes, while brushed nickel suits more contemporary ones.
• Install outdoor lighting. Low-voltage landscape lighting makes a huge impact on your home’s curb appeal while also providing safety and security. Fixtures can add accent lighting to trees or the house or can illuminate a walking path. If you aren’t able to use lights that require wiring, install solar fixtures (but understand that their light levels are not as bright or as reliable).
• Install window boxes. Window boxes offer a fast, easy way to bring color and charm to your home exterior. Choose boxes made from copper or iron for a traditional look, or painted wood for a cottage feel. Mix and match flowers and plants to suit your lighting conditions and color scheme.

Of course, if you’ve been pulling into the same driveway for quite some time, it can be difficult to judge where your home may need improvements.

Lori Kim Polk, owner of Stage Right Design in Sacramento, Calif., writes about five questions a homeowner must ask before taking on a curb appeal project. Start by standing across the street from your home, then ask:

1. Can you see it? Trees and shrubs have their place, but how do they affect the visibility of your home from the street? Think of them as a frame – do they help or hurt the picture?
2. How is the paint? Neutral colors are safest when selling, but think of the front door and patio as the focal point for passersby. A fresh coat on the door or simply painting trim can do wonders.
3. How is the driveway? Think “clean and clear.” Try to get rid of any unpleasant oil stains and fill cracks where possible. Driveways say a lot about a home’s age. A clean, well-kept driveway can make a home look newer.
4. Is your walkway to the front door defined? If you have the patio space, create a sitting area. Consider a flower bed, brick or stone walkways and outdoor lighting. Visitors should feel drawn to your front door.
5. How is the landscaping? Lawn upkeep is critical. Make sure your grass is watered, mowed and edged. Use brightly colored flowers to make your yard feel alive. Potted plants are another great option if you don’t have the time or space to plant a flower bed.

When I moved into my 1922 apartment, I noticed that outside the door was a nailed-up little door up on the wall. I assumed it was a now-closed trash chute, until my landlord explained to me that it was actually an icebox where the milkman would drop off the day’s dairy delivery.

So much for my dreams of not having to walk my trash down to the Dumpster. It’s a neat feature though, and always a good conversation piece. This Old House (via MSN Real Estate) gave a rundown of some of the cool features that you can only find in an old house:

• Deep front porches: True “outdoor rooms” with plenty of space to sit on a swing with your sweetheart, sip coffee on wicker furniture or lay in a hammock.
• Floor registers: Yes, the occasional earring might have been sacrificed, but floor registers were always the perfect place to warm your feet or see how poofy your skirt could get.
• Storm shutters: These beauties may have added the perfect Southern charm, but thanks to hurricane-resistant products, they can now just be enjoyed for their good looks.
• Dumbwaiters: The perfect way to send packages and groceries upstairs!
• Solid walls: Nothing beats lath and plaster for preventing noise from traveling between rooms.

We’ve gained a lot of great things with advancements in building. But with progress, sometimes things are left by the wayside. For instance, I can’t recall seeing the ever-handy laundry chute in a newer house. And of course other things, like a beautiful hitching post in the front yard, are no longer needed. What other interesting features do you fondly recall from old houses? Let us know in the comments!

My brother Chris and I often hike the wooded areas that surround the Garden Home Retreat. Exploring the forest is a pastime that goes back to our childhood, and it gives us a chance to go over landscape projects we are working on together on the property.

On a recent walk we talked about building a little Gothic pavilion on a spot overlooking the Arkansas River. It could be a great place to sit and watch the river go by. We found the perfect location where the ground is level and then drops to a steep incline.  A small pavilion or belvedere would be an intriguing destination that one would come to along the woodland garden path. From the best we could tell it wouldn’t take much to open up a few views to the east and west looking up and down the river.

If you have been to the Retreat or seen photographs of the house, you know that it is all in the Greek Revival style; a Gothic structure would add a touch of contrast. I see it also being very rustic hexagonal building with five windows and a door. It’d be fun to use Tulip Popular bark around the windows.

Right around the time Chris and I began discussing the pavilion, Marvin Windows and Doors approached me about designing a window for their MyMarvin project.  Seeing as rustic Gothic was on my mind, I designed a window with a pointed arch made of rough, branches with peeling bark.  It would be perfect for my pavilion in the woods.

You can see my Gothic window design here.



Overlooking Tuxedo Lake, just north of Manhattan, this 9000-square-foot French Chateau-style home was constructed on the site of a residence that burned to the ground in the 1920s. Raised up on old 30-foot-high rock retaining walls, the home was virtually built from the inside out.

Marvin Windows and Doors was selected to craft the wood windows because of the large range of sizes, styles and assemblies required.

Windows and doors are key to the look of this house: The 35-foot-high  great room features French doors topped with transoms and three enormous arch-top windows angled to capture an amazing view of Tuxedo Lake. The dining room includes a circular Bay window and a radius wall in the rotunda area. A 6-foot circle window is located near the apex of the roof.

Marvin products used in Tuxedo Park include: French doors, round-top windows, transoms, casements and more!

We like to think of our gardens as an extension of our home. And just like any room in the house, sometimes you just want a few new things to brighten it up. For your reading pleasure, here are some fun products and ideas that can liven up any outdoor abode.

The Lluna planter by Serralunga is a cool modern planter as you can see:

But if you find yourself needing a cold drink instead of more greenery, this planter obliges. It would work well for a large backyard soiree!

Speaking of that garden party, if you are looking for a use for the empty beer bottles you stashed in the planter/ice bucket, look no further than Design*Sponge’s bottle garden idea.  It’s an easy idea for a really cool garden…and it’s a great way to re-use without recycling!

If the bottle garden inspires you to find a way to re-use objects in your garden, then consider Re-Nest’s idea to turn your chandelier into a planter. Where the bulbs would be, you put small pots of flowers instead. It’s unique, funky, and classically quirky.

What are some fun ideas you’ve tried for “re-decorating” your garden?

All images are from blogs linked to above