Saturday, October 8, 2011

Remodeling Magazine 2011 Design Awards

We enjoyed Remodeling Magazine’s 2011 Design Awards issue so much, that we thought we would share some of the winners with you. Hope they inspire you in your own projects and as always, feel free to inquire about the latest in home remodeling.

Kitchen Remodeling $50,000 – $100,000
To satisfy the clients’ ideas for a modern palette, the team used a black and white color theme with custom white oak cabinets and stained graphite and concrete countertops. They replaced the damaged ¾-inch pine flooring with salvaged heart pine flooring finished with a patina to match the other flooring in the house. To gain light, a “full-view” steel door onto the deck was installed. Walls and ceilings were plaster-coated to give the look and feel of the original. For more information about how to go about a kitchen remodel Seattle, click the link.
Architect/Designer: Heather Wildman Figley, Moss Architects, Pittsburgh
Contractor: Dave Myers, J. Francis Co., Pittsburgh



Whole-House Remodeling Under $250,000
The layout of this 60’s-era home was comprised of small rooms, which gave the house an unusually cramped and crowded feeling. The new design opens up the kitchen and dining room into the large living room. Windows and skylights bring light deep into the interior, highlighting the richness of the ceiling and giving the main level a more open feel. New mahogany siding allows the home to tastefully celebrate its roots while becoming a contemporary neighborhood jewel.  Visit our website for more information about a Seattle home renovation
Designer: Shawn Buehler, Bennett Frank McCarthy Architects, Silver Spring, Md.
Contractor: Matt Novakovitch, Radius Group, Derwood, Md.




Design-Build over $250,000
This 75-year-old house needed an upgrade to fit both the current and future needs of a young family. The remodeled home now opens up to the front yard to give it a more welcoming feel. The addition of the spacious front porch is an ideal and comfortable perch for parents as the children romp through the yard. The entry was moved to the right side of the house, which improves circulation throughout. A new living room occupies the space that once housed a single-car garage. The addition of stucco and plank siding revealed a home that hasn’t just been improved and updated, but has been reborn.  Click the link to learn more about custom bathroom remodels.
Designer: Van Pond, The Wills Co., Nashville, Tenn.
Contractor: Ridley Wills, The Wills Co.



Friday, October 7, 2011

Trend Watch: Demand for Home Health Technology to Rise With Aging of Baby Boomers

Whether it involves older adults or children with special needs in the home, the possibility of a life threatening physical injury occurring when no one is around is a big motivator for the installation of home health technology integration systems.

(Visit our gallery to see Seattle Remodeling pictures and get inspired on a potential home remodel!)


Statistics from AARP and others support expectations for this to become a significant trend in the housing industry. 75% of adult children and 69% of parents are specifically concerned about the parents' ability to live independently as they get older. More than half of adult children - 54% - think their parents will need help of home monitoring.

(Click here to see Seattle bathroom remodel pictures for inspiration on your next
project!)

Home health technology - electronic systems that can provide individuals access to health monitoring at home - can allow older Americans to live at home longer and special needs children to maintain more independence. Aging-in-Place technology blogger and analyst Laurie Orlov projects that today's $2 billion aging technology industry will be worth $20 billion by the year 2020.

(Visit here to see Seattle kitchen remodel pictures for inspiration on your next
project!)


Among "active adults" for whom health ailments aren't yet a great concern, there is an ability and eagerness to stay fit, which is opening up other opportunities for in home technology, such as fitness rooms with sound systems and programmable TV's.  Contact Estate Homes today to discuss the options for incorporating this technology into your home.