From an article in the March 2011 issue of Qualified Remodeler magazine:

According to the Energy Conservation Enhancement Project at Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, 20 percent of all electricity produced in the U.S. is used for lighting, but 50 percent of that electricity is wasted by inefficient lighting sources or careless consumers. Lighting-control systems, which long have been utilized in commercial buildings, have become affordable for the average homeowner. And today’s wireless lighting-control systems make installation easy and practical for renovators.

Easy-to-use lighting control systems make homeowners more likely to use only as much light as they need, only when they need it. Like most other energy-efficiency efforts, a single home deploying this technology won’t make much of an impact at a global level. But as these technologies become more affordable and more commonplace, it’s sure to make a dent in overall energy usage and all that comes with it.

Wired systems are better-suited for new construction because of the intricate wiring system that would be rather invasive where walls already exist. Wireless control systems are, obviously, less invasive, avoiding damage to walls. But they require batteries or some other power source and can cost more, which is the trade-off made for ease of installation.

The article from Qualified Remodeler offers more details about this family of products, including an introduction to several specific models you can choose from.

photo courtesy of LiteTouch Inc.

What do you really need a permit for?
Home Construction and Improvement
A confusing, troubling issue for some homeowners as they start out on a remodeling project. “Though permit requirements vary from city to city (and by the size and scope of your plan) generally you’ll need a permit for major structural or electrical projects. Here are some of the projects you really need a permit for, though you are still encouraged to double-check with your individual city board.”

12 top remodeling trends for 2011
Moneywatch
“The National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI) conducted an exclusive poll of their top builders and developers for us and found that while most people are not starting major renovation projects due to the economy, now is the time to take care of the smaller jobs around your home. Call it the over-arching remodeling trend for 2011: Tackling small projects while you wait to do the really big remodeling project that’s on your list.”

Recapping the 2011 International Builders’ Show
Marvin Windows Media Room
Yes, we’re linking to ourselves here. This post is our round-up of news and information from the homebuilding industry’s largest convention. It features the new products Marvin unveiled, new products from other leading home product manufacturers, some great interviews, and more.

How to prepare your home and household for a remodel
Charles & Hudson
“Even if you aren’t doing the job yourself, you should take steps to prepare your home and household before a major renovation begins. Once contractors start running around your home and the demo starts, it’s often too late to lay the groundwork for an efficient remodel. Here are some steps you can take to prepare your home & household for a remodel.”

Get the lighting right: 8 mistakes to avoid
Houzz.com
“Interior designers are often called upon to give input about lighting in residential environments. In trying to tackle a lighting dilemma, many fixtures get specified in living areas, kitchens and baths that waste energy and do not get light where it is needed most. These ineffective specifications are often repeated as homeowners are unsure of lighting solutions and tricks of the trade. But sometimes, knowing what not to do can help make you look like a pro. Below I list 8 common lighting mistakes to avoid, and how to do it right, as demonstrated by Houzz designers.”

Think for a moment about the lighting in your home. You probably have a floor lamp in the living room, a couple of table lamps, a few rooms with overhead lighting fixtures — maybe on a ceiling fan in the bedroom — and a desk lamp here and there. Very utilitarian sort of stuff. But consider the potential the lighting fixtures in your home have to make a statement.

With just a bit of planning and creativity, your lighting can add style and flair to any room in the house. Here are a few ideas to get you started.

You don’t need a palace or a ballroom to make a chandelier work for you. Hang one over your dining room table for an elegant, luxurious touch.

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Another concept is taking something traditional — a chandelier — and throwing a wrench into the mix. (Metaphorically speaking, of course.) Something as simple as using unique glass elements in place of traditional globes goes along way toward making your own personal statement.

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If you’re interested in something that does more to stand out, try incorporating bright, bold colors. Depending on how you approach it, you could create a very clean, modern feel…

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…or something a little more casual and almost “crafty.”

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Color isn’t the only way to be bold. Try experimenting with wildly different forms and shapes. The light fixture below (which was actually used as a Christmas “tree,” according to the photographer’s description) is nothing like most light fixtures – -and that’s the point!

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The possibilities are endless. Think about ways you can use interesting placement — either within a room or on a wall — or an usual arrangement — rather than the traditional row of lights in a group, for examples — to create a different effect. Of course, if you’d rather start with small steps, simply choosing a stylish, attention-grabbing lampshade is a great start.

For more ideas, check out these photo collections: Lights and Lamps and Interior Design.

We recently talked about some (supposedly) passé decorating trends. According to The Nest, there are seven big mistakes you can make when decorating–even if you avoid the aforementioned trends. In no order of importance, they are:

1. The unanchored rug–nothing on top of it? Then why is it there? We’ll make exceptions for small rugs used by doorways to avoid tracking dirt in.

2. Really big furniture. If it takes up most of the room, it will look ridiculous.

3. Bad paint. It can’t be said enough–test your paint in various lights and sleep on your decision. Maybe in the morning that tangerine accent wall in the living room will seem less kicky.

4. Too much of everything. The article evokes the old Coco Chanel adage that says that before a woman leaves the house, she should take one thing off (e.g. a piece of jewelry or a scarf). The same is true for homes. If course you want it to look lived in and not empty, but too much stuff=clutter. Fast.

5. Decorating from a single era. Yes, you want your furniture to fit your home. And you don’t have to go completely crazy, but don’t be afraid to put a piece of African art in your Cape Cod, a Ligne Roset chair in your Victorian or a piece of chintz in your modern house. After all, you don’t live in a museum.

6. A BIG TV. Look, we all like the idea of a home theater. but consider your room’s proportions. Also look at the pattern of use. For a basement rec room, a very large TV might be just the thing. For a living room used for multiple purposes, such as gathering after dinner and entertaining guests, don’t let your television become the focal point.

7. Bad lighting. It’s unflattering and causes eyestrain.

Of course, this is all opinion, and in the end you should do what you are comfortable with. But the thread that runs through all these “donts” is a lack of consideration for living and for human interaction. Clutter, TV, distracting walls and bad lighting will detract from the warm human element that home should bring to mind.

What are your decorating donts?

Image courtesy of Chris Campbell on Flickr.

Calfinder recently featured these lights, and they are so cool that we had to share them with you.

By tehrani baylis DESIGN(tbD), this light uses a simple jar to create an extraordinarily chic statement piece that is especially perfect for the kitchen. It’s all hand-assembled with durable materials and when you need to change the bulb, you just take off the lid of the jar. What a great way to use an everyday material to make a necessary, yet stylish appliance!

To learn more, please visit tbD’s website.

Photo courtesy of Calfinder.

Coming into a new year, you might be tempted to do some serious home renovation via a remodel. If you are satisfied with your current location, or don’t wish to sell, remodeling can make your house feel completely new.

But there is one important caution: Please do some serious thinking and planning before embarking on a remodeling project. Not only can it be an expensive proposition, but unless you have a breezy beach house or cozy cabin to escape to, you will be temporarily living in a construction zone. Even the best remodeling experiences can be fraught with frustration. So you will want to make sure that the end result is something that you love and that enhances your home’s livability and your enjoyment of it.

To find a good remodeler, we recommend visiting The National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI). The website provides a remodeler locator as well as good information.

To prevent some common remodeling mistakes, our friends at Calfinder present five of the worst remodeling mistakes:

• A raised ceiling can give a sense of spaciousness, but take care: it’s often times not built on a human scale and full of wasted space. Don’t forget that very high ceilings means that noise isn’t muffled and the room can be harder to heat and cool.
• Who doesn’t want a big kitchen with plenty of room to prepare feasts and get the whole family involved? Plan carefully to ensure that your work triangle is compact and you aren’t walking across the room to grab milk for your cereal.
• Proportion your garage to the rest of your home (see photo). Although adding or expanding an attached garage is a convenient use of space, make sure it doesn’t overshadow your house.
• We talk a lot about the importance of light in a room. Don’t go overboard, though! With too many permanent light fixtures, you lose design flexibility for future lighting.
• Be careful where you put a porch. It shouldn’t be tacked on just anywhere. A common mistake is to end up with the porch blocking light from the original space.

Spend some time thinking about good design, and your remodel will be a success! For more information and images that illustrate these remodeling mistakes, visit Calfinder.

Image courtesy of Calfinder.

There is nothing like the shorter days of winter to remind us of how much light (or lack thereof) can affect our mood and our health.

Scientists and doctors tell us that seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is real, with the lack of sunlight during the winter months adversely affecting most people. SAD is now known to wear us down, bring out bouts with depression, lower productivity, and generally make us feel lousy.

As a window and door manufacturer, Marvin Windows and Doors takes a keen interest in shining light into your life. Shouldn’t you be maximizing the light in your home this winter during those rare daylight hours?

Take a look around your home and at your windows. Is there room to expand your window area? Do you have window treatments that do more to block light than they do add style? Of course, some window treatments are designed to block light, but some, when not in use, can cut out valuable sunshine, such as when bulky curtains are pushed away but still cover much of the window area. If you’re considering replacing your windows, consider increasing their size, too. It might make the replacement project a bit of a bigger one, but envision the brighter home and the nicer view!

There are also benefits above and beyond the added light that new (and bigger) windows would bring into your home. It certainly gets a little chilly in the house during the winter months. Why not try leaving the drapes and curtains open while the sun’s shining, allowing its warmth to come through those beautiful windows and take some of the burden off of your furnace? The heat of the sun, regardless of how cold it is outside, can be powerful. Your furnace will thank you for easing her burden, and once the heating of the day is gone and the coolness of the night starts to set in, reverse your course and close those window treatments to trap as much of the heat inside your house as you can.

Some other ideas? Consider adding skylights, which can be a great way to lighten up interior rooms like some kitchens or bathrooms. Use mirrors to help make rooms feel larger and to reflect light. The DIY Maven at Curbly offers some more suggestions on how to put a little more light in your life, too. What have you done around the house to bring more light in?

Photo courtesy of chatiryworld on Flickr

Are there rooms in your house that you avoid spending time in because they feel stuffy or confined? Have you been tempted to start an expensive renovation process that includes knocking down walls to free up some space? Well, apparently carnivals aren’t the only place to go to see mirrors create an illusion of space; it can happen in your master bedroom, as well.

According to this article by Rebecca White-Glanders, mirrors can be just the remedy that your room needs for small spaces. There are several easy ways to make your room seem larger with the addition of mirrors. Here are a few:

• For a master bedroom that’s too narrow, adding mirrors to either side of the narrow space can make the room feel wider.
• Try placing decorative mirrors directly across from windows. The room’s space will be brightened by light that is bounced off the mirrors. Lighting effects are a key to making small rooms seem larger.
• If your room has an entry way that forces you to turn left or right immediately upon entering, place a mirror on the wall facing the door.

Mirrors also add a great aesthetic element to any room, writes White-Glanders. She suggests that simply placing an unframed, large mirror opposite your favorite piece of artwork will allow you to see it from new angles.

Photo courtesy of CarlyJane1 via Flickr