How to plan an eco-friendly remodel without overspending

January 20, 2022

By Annie Millerbernd of NerdWallet When Cliff and Karen Tyllick set out to install solar panels on their Austin, Texas , home in 2012, their goal was to reduce their carbon footprint. The fact that they also saved thousands of dollars upfront and lowered their bills was a nice bonus. Solar panel installation can cost $15,000 to $25,000 or more . For the Tyllicks, federal and local incentives significantly cut their costs — they now frequently don’t pay for electricity, and when they do, it costs between $30 and $50 per month. Whether you’re incorporating sustainability into ...

December marks 3rd month of growth for US builders

January 20, 2022

SILVER SPRING, Md. (AP) — Construction of new homes in the U.S. rose for the third consecutive month in December and data released Wednesday suggests that the frantic pace of building will continue this year. The December increase puts home construction at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1.7 million units, the Commerce Department reported Wednesday. In all of 2021, nearly 1.6 million housing units were started a 15.6% increase over 2020. The December housing data was boosted by multi-unit projects where starts increased by 5%, offsetting a 2.3% decline in single-family starts. ...

So you want a new kitchen? Tips for starting the process

January 13, 2022

By Katherine Roth Associated Press So you want a new kitchen? Whether you’re considering designing a kitchen using your own architect, a kitchen planner hired through a store like IKEA or Home Depot, or an online planning service, professionals suggest keeping a few things in mind. PLAN AHEAD, PLAN WAY AHEAD “Many people start planning their kitchen a year ahead of time, and that’s about right,” says John Allen, a services planner at IKEA in the United States. “The more you’ve worked out what you want ahead of time, the more smoothly things will go once you start ...

ASK A DESIGNER: Simple steps toward a healthier home

January 13, 2022

By Melissa Rayworth Associated Press Can your home help you get healthier? Interior designers say clients don’t just want help creating a more beautiful home anymore. They want to create living spaces where they will cook healthier foods, breathe healthier air and improve overall wellness. Here, tinterior design experts — Jon Call of Palm Springs, California-based Mr. Call Designs, and New Yorkers Young Huh and Carolyn DiCarlo — recommend general approaches to creating a healthy home. CONSCIOUS CLEANING “The first thing I do when I go into a client’s home is talk ...

How to attract busy contractors to your home remodel

January 6, 2022

By Annie Millerbernd of NerdWallet Brian Gawthrop has waited over six months to remodel his home. The Washington state-based certified financial planner and his wife have a long enough wish list to keep a contractor busy: a kitchen remodel, new flooring, a new deck and many other upgrades. They did a cash-out refinance last summer, which lowered their mortgage rate and gave them money to use toward home improvements. They planned to start soon after receiving the cash, but by mid-December Gawthrop still hadn’t found the right contractor. Contractors say pandemic-prompted home ...

Bringing it home: Find inspiration in public spaces’ decor

December 30, 2021

By Melissa Rayworth Associated Press Sometimes, sitting in a public place like a hotel lobby, you notice a mix of colors youíd never considered using in your own home — and you realize you absolutely love it. Or you see furniture that’s much more modern than you thought you liked, but itís just what your living room needs. Interior designers say clients often tell them about public places with style they want at home. This can function as a useful shorthand, says Lauren Buxbaum Gordon, design director and partner at Nate Berkus Associates, who designs commercial and ...