No matter the home, a remodeling project is a big undertaking, and the reasons we choose to remodel are virtually infinite.

That’s why we’ve created a new feature for Marvin.com, the myMarvin Remodelers Gallery, which features several case studies complete with before and after photos and homeowner stories on what inspired their project.

We hope you’ll visit the gallery to explore the many visions realized through some of the most impressive remodeling projects in the country. And if you’ve recently completed a project and you would like to have it featured in our gallery, encourage your contractor to send before and after photos to us for consideration.

For now, enjoy three gorgeous projects that injected new life into older homes.

myMarvin Remodelers Gallery features case studies, before and after photos and stories of inspiration is a post from: MLuxe - Distinctive Home Style

The 2012 Consumer Electronics Show (CES) kicks off Tuesday in Las Vegas and some of the most well-respected blogs are making predictions for what to expect.

Over the years, CES has been the site where companies have introduced innovations like the camcorder, the compact disc, high-definition televisions and even the original Nintendo gaming system.

Last year, we highlighted household innovations from the CES floor, which included many smart home technologies that will re-shape the way we live in and interact with our homes.

Here’s some of the early predictions for what we’ll see at the 2012 CES:

Mat Smith, Engadget: “It’ll be what we’re not seeing that looks likely to be the major trend for household tech — namely wires. We’re expecting to see broader (and closer to retail) takes on inductive charging. We’re talking more convenient ways to wirelessly top up your phone, possibly integration into your car and home — all in a way that’s far more subtle than that black industrial mat of yesteryear. We’d expect to see it seeping into many more devices beyond smartphones. Leave those remotes on your coffee table as it charges the batteries for you.”

Matt Burns, TechCrunch: “A smaller but still notable trend for the 2012 CES involves Siri clones inside new product types … Several smart TV concepts have optional voice controls. Using a mic embedded in a remote, viewers are supposedly able to control certain functions with just their voice. We haven’t seen any demos but the company’s limited descriptions lends us to believe that the feature set is very limited and is probably more of a novelty than a useful feature.”

Kukil Bora, International Business Times: “The CES 2012 will introduce enhanced energy management system in your home, using gadgets like thermostats that can be controlled remotely via browsers and smartphones. Broadband companies are also getting into the scene by selling home-automation bundles. In October last year, Verizon started offering a Motorola system for remotely monitoring energy and cameras in the home, which was previewed at the CES last year.”

Bloggers preview home technology innovations for 2012 International Consumer Electronics Show is a post from: MLuxe - Distinctive Home Style

Black and white damask is a classic and elegant pattern.

Available at Target.

This unusual color guarantees that your thank you notes will stand out.

Available at Papyrus

This fun holiday thank you note can be customized!

Available from Etsy.

Thank you for the lovely Christmas present… is a post from: MLuxe - Distinctive Home Style

Dyson Hot Space Heater

Just a few short weeks from now, the boldest among us will create a list of resolutions for 2012. The usual suspects include losing weight, quitting smoking and getting more sleep.

Each year, it seems more people are pledging to live more environmentally friendly in the coming year. Some resolve to quit using plastic grocery bags while others plan to ride bike to work when the weather allows. Small, microcosmic changes that add up.

We think greener living is totally admirable, and so do the good folks at Inhabitat, who have compiled a list of 10 green gadgets you can give this Christmas to help encourage a family member or a friend. Some of our favorite gifts include:

BioLogic Bike Mount for iPhone 4
We don’t advocate talking on a smartphone while riding a bicycle, but this handy mount allows riders to track GPS location, mileage, speed and distance. When the conditions are appropriate, you can plug in your earbuds for motivation music or easy podcast-listening.

Dyson Hot Space Heater
According to Inhabitat, “The Dyson Hot is more powerful than traditional space heaters, more efficient than central heating systems, and it constantly monitors the temperature of a room, shutting off when the desired temperature has been reached.” It’s also a lot more attractive than traditional space heater, as you would expect from any Dyson product.

Quirky Ray Solar-Powered Suction Charger
Between our smartphones, tablets and laptops, it’s a wonder we don’t collapse the grid with all of our gadget charging. As the name states, this solar charger is definitely quirky. The concept is simple: Stick the QuirkyRay to a car window or windshield, even an airplane window, and like that, you’ve got energy to power a device. This is a great gift for those who travel a lot.

Does your list of New Year’s resolutions include living greener? If so, what steps are you planning on taking?

Support green New Year’s resolutions with these environmentally-friendly gadget gifts is a post from: MLuxe - Distinctive Home Style

If you have an ambitious idea that demands a custom solution, our Signature team can bring your vision to life. Marvin Signature Products and Services combines the capabilities of a national brand with the craftsmanship of a local millwork shop. Marvin Signature offers distinctive custom capabilities, personalized service and a solutions-driven approach to our work with new construction, renovation and historic restoration projects.

One favorite example is the round pivot window shown in the photo at right. This window is a creative, stylish solution for gables, cupolas and other challenging spaces. The sash pivots to allow fresh air to flow or can be removed for easy access to the exterior.

See for yourself some of the team’s awesome capabilities in our Signature photo gallery and case study collection.

Marvin Signature Products and Services: Innovation on display is a post from: MLuxe - Distinctive Home Style

If you’ve ever encountered a slow or backed up drain, you know the only thing more troubling than the standing water is endeavoring to remove the clog yourself. Whether by using harsh chemicals or a long, sharp-toothed apparatus, do-it-yourself plumbing usually winds up a disgusting lesson in physics.

That’s what makes the PermaFLOW Never-Clog Drain by PF WaterWorks so intriguing. Shaped like a traditional P-trap drain, the PermaFLOW utilizes transparent walls to remove the mystery from diagnosing clogs. The real brilliance is revealed with the twist of an external knob that causes a wiper inside the drain to rotate, advancing whatever clog might be blocking your drain.

The PermaFLOW is one of those Why didn’t I think of that? innovations that may not be suitable for every home, but you have to admire its solution-minded simplicity.

[Photo from PF WaterWorks]

PermaFLOW Never-Clog Drain backs up bold claim with innovative design, forward thinking is a post from: MLuxe - Distinctive Home Style

Pull it behind your vehicle to the campsite (you can turn the back into a bed). If there’s water nearby, just switch it into a boat! It’s an all-in-one vacation funmobile! As Treehugger notes, it is unfortunately not cheap and won’t be available until at least next year. Would you consider this a wise investment for future vacations or would you rather just invest in a separate camper or boat?

Images courtesy of Treehugger.

Floating camper is a post from: MLuxe - Distinctive Home Style

So what’s the problem? This product was discontinued by KitchenAid. While we’re sure they had good reason to do so, it does seem too bad: here is an easy way to fit a dishwasher into kitchens. People with older kitchens might appreciate not having to rip out cabinets to install a regular, larger dishwasher, and those with dishwashers might like an extra, smaller dishwasher for overflow. Plus, we would venture a guess that it uses less water than a traditional dishwasher.

Charles and Hudson (where we found this) wasn’t able to find out why it was discontinued, but they do note that at $1,800 it wasn’t very budget-friendly for such a small dishwasher. Maybe that is what killed it. Or maybe there were design flaws. Either way, it’s a great product concept that we wish we’d see more of!

Readers–what are some great home products that you loved and are no longer available? Let us know in the comments!

Image courtesy of Charles and Hudson

Mini dishwasher in a sink: A great product you can’t have is a post from: MLuxe - Distinctive Home Style

Many communities along the U.S. East Coast have started to evacuate in anticipation of Hurricane Irene, which is expected to gain Category 4 strength this afternoon. Major cities like Washington, Philadelphia, New York and Boston are located right in storm’s projected path,  leaving millions of Americans concerned about hurricane insurance, disaster preparedness and what they just might come home to should they choose to evacuate.

Fortunately, now more than ever, homeowners have access to building products and materials created to withstand extreme weather conditions, giving them a fighting chance against unforeseen catastrophes like Hurricane Irene.

Storms like Irene are why Marvin Windows and Doors offers its StormPlus products, which offer all the luxury and elegance Marvin is known for, but the brute strength to take on hurricane winds upwards of 140 miles per hour. For instance, the Impact Zone 3 products were created for coastal areas along the Gulf of Mexico and the East Coast. All IZ3 products are tested to endure wind-borne debris and intense changes in pressure. As a show of strength, IZ3 products must endure an 8-foot 2 x 4 stud shot at 50 feet per second.

To better understand the importance of a fortified home and disaster preparedness, we recommend visiting disastersafety.org for tips on weathering Hurricane Irene and future storms to come. Among other things, they have created this video that shows what hurricane-force winds can do to a home whose windows break compared with a home whose windows stay intact.

We sure hope everyone out there is safe!

Hurricane safety: Help protect your home with storm-ready windows from Marvin is a post from: MLuxe - Distinctive Home Style

On Monday, Re-nest pointed out the September issue of Dwell magazine includes a photo of an American home (seen above) with a wind turbine fastened to its roof.

And just like that, wind turbines have gone mainstream.

Well, maybe not quite yet, but this is an exciting development on the energy conservancy front. There’s something decidedly space-age and exciting about homeowners having the ability to harness wind energy from their own rooftop.

The company providing the solution is donQi, which is based in Denmark. According to Re-nest, homeowners can expect to fully recoup on the cost of purchase and installation after just 10 years of use.  The donQi Urban Windmill won’t terrorize the neighborhood with humming and vibrating, either.

According to donQi, a single Urban Windmill can meet 25-75 percent of the average homeowner’s energy needs, dependent on the size of the home and average wind conditions. That’s considerable output, especially as energy costs continue to rise.

But the Urban Windmill also sticks out, creating what some might consider an eyesore just like solar panels did when they first hit the market.

Would you be willing to add a donQi Urban Windmill for the energy benefits even if it made your house stand out?

donQi Urban Windmill may have huge energy benefits, but will consumers get past bulky design? is a post from: MLuxe - Distinctive Home Style