Transform Your Space with Decorative Lighting

(ARA) - Now that summer is here, a lot of people are considering home improvement projects, but you don't have to tear down walls or rearrange the furniture to make a statement. In most cases, reworking the lighting is all it will take to transform a room from "drab" to "fab.

""When people go into model homes and see what's in: the high ceilings, angled walls and dramatic lighting, they want to recreate the looks in their own homes, but run into limitations. Unless they're willing to spend a lot of money on renovations, they can't do anything about the shape of the room, but decorative lighting can be used to transform the space and create a sense of style anywhere," says Joe Rey-Barreau, educational consultant for the American Lighting Association and professor of interior design at the University of Kentucky. He travels the country tracking lighting trends, and believes one of the reasons decorative lighting has become so popular in the past two or three years is because it allows you to easily add a modern touch to any room without having to make expensive upgrades.

Among the many options gaining in popularity, putting recessed cans in kitchen and living areas to better balance the light, installing track lighting above areas you want to highlight, putting up picture lights to showcase photos and artwork and adding pendants that will allow you to showcase a small area. These days, they are being hung over islands and peninsulas in kitchens, and in rooms dedicated to entertainment -- over bars and gathering spots in basements. "When you think of a pendant, the image that comes to mind is probably a small, obscure fixture hanging down from the ceiling to light a specific area, but these days they are anything but obscure," says Rey-Barreau. "They are fashion statements.

"Pendants are now available in all shapes and sizes and in looks ranging from traditional to eclectic. "The pendant offerings we have found our customers reacting favorably to have been those with a color pallet consistent with an Asian Fusion, Retro and Tuscan/Mediterranean style. Those utilizing calming neutrals with clear hues infused with light are popular as well," says Cory Echito, who is a product development manager for the Juno Lighting Group in Chicago.

Marc Pfeiffer, national sales manager for W.A.C. Lighting in New York says the hottest sellers right now are small pendants featuring colored and multi-colored glass. "People are seeking out the most unusual fixtures they can find and putting them up not just for the purpose of lighting a room, but to be conversation pieces," he says.

Pendant fixtures made of metal can give a room an almost gothic look. Ceramic fixtures can be painted any color under the sun. "If you're looking for a more unique look, a popular material to go with is Murano glass hand-blown in Italy," says Ray-Barreau. "Each one is an original work of art." Some Murano fixtures feature a single color of glass blown into a bell-or bowl-shaped fixture. Others are tapestries of color twisting and turning into unusual shapes. Once you hang the pendant up and add a light bulb, color dances across the ceiling or wall the light is pointed towards.

Just as varied as the colors and materials available for pendants are the methods of display. "A lot of people are putting up not one, but two, three or even four pendants in a circle or row to emphasize a space," says Pfeiffer. "Some people hang each of them from single channel fixtures. I've also seen them displayed on tracks." Pendants range in price from around $30 to upwards of $500 for those made of hand-blown glass. Visit your local retail lighting showroom to get a look at the latest designs available. To find the one closest to you, call (800) BRIGHT IDEAS. For more information about the latest lighting trends and how to achieve them, log on to the American Lighting Association's Web site at www.americanlightingassoc.com.

Courtesy of ARA Content

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Innovation Makes Kitchens Convenient, Functional and Stylish

(ARA) - The kitchen has become the center of the action in today's home. It's used for everything from entertaining to doing homework. Oh, and cooking, too. The amenities found in the kitchen reflect this multi-tasking. You're likely to find a computer and a television in the room in addition to more traditional appliances.

But the fundamental role of the kitchen hasn't changed - and neither has the desire of home cooks for features that make the kitchen functional and practical as well as attractive. "Double ovens, commercial-grade appliances and solid surface countertops were once found only in upscale homes, but they are becoming the standard for all kitchens as they go from being behind the scenes to the forefront of the action," notes Jamie Hurd, academic department director of interior design at The Art Institute of Portland.

All of these upgrades add style to a room that many consider the focal point of their homes. "In newer homes, the kitchen often opens up into the family room, becoming part of the living area," says Hurd. For this reason, in addition to state-of-the-art appliances, homeowners are adding other stylish elements as well, such as colorful tiled backsplashes and beautiful wood cabinets.

"People realize the value of a good kitchen, and the value it adds to their homes," says Hurd. And details like plumbing and lighting are just as important as the right appliances. Two new sinks and accessories from Kohler reflect the trend of kitchens that work hard and look great. Cast iron sinks with Smart Divide functionality provide the best of both worlds - the convenience of a double-basin sink and the roominess of a single-basin sink.

Kohler accomplishes this thanks to a basin divider that is half the height of conventional dividers and thereby offers greater clearance between the faucet and the mid-section of the sink.Thanks to this innovative design, the Smart Divide sink is better suited to accommodate larger pots and pans with extended handles. It also helps save water, since extra long pots and pans can be more fully submerged, meaning less water is required to soak the cookware. The Smart Divide sinks are available in two models, Iron/Tones and Langlade.

Homeowners who want streamlined functionality will love the accessories they can use with the sinks, including Kohler's popular Forté pullout kitchen faucet. Graceful and functional, the spout height and reach are generous enough to provide added clearance when handling large containers. The pullout spray head is easy to maneuver and the spray pattern can be changed with one hand. It is easy to maintain, featuring a MasterClean Sprayface that withstands calcium buildup and can be cleaned simply by rubbing the sprayface with a fingertip.

The faucet is available in a number of finishes to fit any décor. If you're searching for an uncluttered look for your kitchen, you can add a hot water dispenser for making instant coffee or tea and put soap or lotion dispenser under your sink for a sleek look. A new universal cutting board means you can wash and chop your produce right at the sink no matter what size your kitchen sink happens to be.For more information on these and other innovations for the kitchen, visit KOHLER.com or call (800) 4-KOHLER.

Courtesy of ARA Content

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Selecting the Best Type of Replacement Window for Your Home

(ARA) - So you've decided to replace your rotted, leaky windows. That decision was relatively easy considering new windows provide returns through energy cost savings and even greater returns in an increased home value. You've made a wise decision.

With the range of replacement window options available, however, your decisions have just begun. Do you want to replace the whole window? What about the interior or exterior trim? Do you need only the sash -- the glass and its casing -- rather than the entire frame? Are you doing the work yourself or will you hire a contractor to help? Do you want to buy the windows from the same place that will install them? And then there's the multitude of options and features on windows to consider.

"With the replacement window models available today," said Jeffrey Orme, brand manager for Crestline Windows & Doors, "homeowners can replace as little or as much as they'd like -- from just the glass or sash to the entire window and exterior trim. The various options can take the project from a relatively easy do-it-yourself task to a full-scale, contractor-level project."

Accurate Measurements

Measuring for replacement windows is one of the most critical parts of the project. Very few homes have off-the-shelf-size windows but instead require windows sized to match their existing window openings. A measurement off by only a half inch could mean the replacement part may not fit the window frame. In the case of a full replacement window, an inaccurate measurement may result in the need to cut into interior sheetrock and exterior siding in order to accommodate the window. Always double check your measurements or have another person verify your measurements.

Sash Kits

Double hung windows are the easiest windows to update. With a sash replacement kit, homeowners can replace just the operable part of the window by inserting new sashes into an existing window frame and jamb. In about an hour per window, you can have new double-hung windows that operate effortlessly, stay open without ugly props, and tilt in for easy cleaning. Many sash kits include features of today's new construction windows such as smooth operating balance systems, high performance glass, and decorative grilles. You can also choose the material from which you'd like your new sash: all vinyl, vinyl exterior/wood interior, primed wood and aluminum-clad wood. Easy-to-follow instructions make replacing a sash a manageable do-it-yourself project.

Pocket

WindowsIf you have casement (crank-out) windows or rotten jambs in your double-hung windows, pocket replacement windows can update the look and performance of your windows. These windows fit into the existing window frame, leaving interior and exterior trim intact. Do-it-yourselfers can find pocket windows in a variety of materials in tilt-in single and double hung, casement and awning, gliding, and bow and bay window styles.

Full Replacement Windows

There are advantages to replacing an entire window. Perhaps you prefer casement windows and your home has all double-hung units. Maybe the frames on your windows have serious rot. Or, you want to replace your wood windows with a lower maintenance alternative like vinyl. These situations call for a more complete replacement choice, which means most homeowners will need a professional contractor or window installation firm to help complete the project.

Windows designed for new construction can be adapted for retrofit applications but they're less than ideal. New construction windows often have nailing fins that aid quick and secure installations where siding is not yet present. Siding installed after the windows covers the nailing fins and is inserted into a groove in the window frame for a seamless look. This is why many homeowners replace windows and siding at the same time. If you're not replacing siding, you'll want a true replacement window.

Crestline Windows & Doors makes a complete replacement window with exterior trim, or brickmould, attached. This kind of product is ideal if you want to update the look and energy efficiency of your windows, and your home has damaged or rotting exterior trim. The old windows are removed and the new windows installed from the outside, thereby minimizing interior trim work. The windows' exterior brickmould covers the siding and any gaps that may be between the window frame and the siding. The vinyl exteriors eliminate regular maintenance work common with wood windows. Prefinished stained wood or white composite interiors save the usual finishing time.

The replacement window option you choose will depend on the extent to which your current windows are damaged or rotted. Sash replacement kits or pocket windows are sufficient in some cases; others require a more complete replacement window. The decisions are many, the returns considerable.

If you'd like free instructions on how to measure for replacement sash, contact Crestline at (800) 552-4111.

Courtesy of ARA Content

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How to Make Your Backyard More Appealing

(ARA) - When you're at home after work or on the weekends, where would you rather spend the majority of your time? Inside doing household chores or outside enjoying the backyard? If you'd rather be inside, that's probably because your backyard isn't as attractive as it could be.So how do you make your backyard more enticing? If all you have back there is grass and trees, do some landscaping to add color and interest; a deck which will serve as a place for hanging out and socializing; and for the kids, a backyard play set.

Numerous studies have found that play sets are essential not only for building a child's physical strength, but mental well-being as well. They help children develop manipulative skills; improve their problem solving skills; and increase their imagination and creativity."When they make the decision to buy a playground set, some people go shopping at a toy store or discount retailer.

What most of these consumers don't realize is that although the initial purchase price may seem attractive, when they go that route they are usually sacrificing quality. The kids will loose interest and stop playing on a playground that is basic no frills. If it's not customizable or designed to be added on to or upgraded over time, it will become obsolete in no time," says Karl Jessen, owner of Detailed Play Systems, a New Jersey-based playground company that sells kits parents can buy to put playground sets together themselves.Jessen started his company in 1998 after realizing he had found a niche in the playground business that needed to be filled.

"When my boys were 4 and 1 1/2, I started looking into getting a play set for them, and the prices for quality sets were so high that I decided to build one myself rather than skimp on the size, features, or strength of the playground to save money. At the time, no one was selling do-it-yourself playground kits that met my standards, and that gave me the idea to start a business whose mission would be to help other parents build quality playgrounds for their families that won't break the bank.

"With input from his boys, Jessen put together a set of kits that include the detailed plans to build several playground configurations along with the galvanized bolt and screw hardware necessary to put the sets together and the vinyl roof tops. Accessories such as swings, slides, monkey bars, tire swings, gang planks and climbing walls can be added on.

If you're thinking about building a playground set for your own child, Jessen recommends you start by sitting down with your son or daughter and making a list of the features he or she wants. The company's most popular kit, the Jungle Fort Swing Set, (detailedplay.com), sells for $389. It features a 6 by 6 platform with sandbox underneath, an inclined step ladder, gangplank ramp, and 3- or 4-position swing set. Slides, monkey bars and a rock climbing wall are sold separately allowing customers to fully customize the playground kit to their needs."The best part is how your system can change over time, to create the perfect playground for your children based on their needs and interests, says Jessen.

"Accessories such as periscopes, telescopes, steering wheels and specialty swings can be added on as children grow. Or maybe they have their heart set on wave slides and trapeze bars. Whatever they love to do, from climbing to spinning, you can create the perfect set-up." Detailed Play Systems is based in New Jersey, but does most of its business online and through catalogs. To order a catalog, call (800) 398-7565 or log on to www.detailedplay.com. Shipping is available in the 48 contiguous United States.

Copyright © 2005, ARA Content

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Proper Install Improves It All

(ARA) - Fall's seasonable temperatures offer a great opportunity to help get your home ready for the rigors of winter. Spend a few weekends winterizing your home now and you'll reap the benefits of lower energy bills and a highly efficient home no matter what the season.Consider this:

* A properly adjusted furnace can help you save 10 percent in fuel consumption.
* Storm windows and doors can reduce heating costs by as much as 15 percent.
* Caulking and weatherstripping cracks in walls and floors, windows and doors will save fuel and money.
* Turning down the thermostat by 10 degrees at night or when the house is unoccupied can save as much as 20 percent of your heating costs. Every 24-hour period that the heat is lowered by one degree can result in a 3 percent savings on your heating bill.
* A well-insulated attic is a worthy cause -- this step alone can save 20 to 35 percent in heating costs and up to 35 percent on air-conditioning costs.Windows and doors conceal every opening in the home so they are critical elements in a cost-conscious home.

It's important that your windows and doors perform at peak levels. If you have an older home with drafty, leaking windows or doors, it's time to stop procrastinating and take action. Heating is the single, biggest energy user in the home, so take steps now to lower heating bills and save valuable time and money this winter.

"The number one problem in new residential construction in North America is poor window and door installation," says H. Alan Mooney, president of Criterium Engineers. He bases his comments on a survey of professional engineers involved in new home inspections that found almost one quarter of new home complaints involved poorly installed windows and doors.

Window and door sensibility Wood, fiberglass and vinyl windows are all best bets when evaluating the energy efficiency of a home. Make sure windows have the proper coating. At a minimum, always choose Low-e glass to help keep your home warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer while reducing harmful ultraviolet rays which can fade interior furnishings.

Blinds or shades have insulating values as well and can add to overall energy efficiency of your home. Pella (R) Designer Series (R) windows and doors feature blinds or shades tucked between two or three panes of glass for extraordinary insulating value and added privacy.

Whether you're remodeling an existing home or starting a new construction project, following installation instructions and using the correct materials helps your project and the products featured in it perform. A popular material with contractors and do-it-yourselfers is Pella SmartFlash (TM) installation tape used to help seal out air and moisture around doors and windows installed in new homes. SmartFlash tape performs well in virtually any weather, withstands heat and cold and is easy to work with because it's so thin and pliable.

The tape helps minimize the potential for water in the wall cavity by tying the window to a home's weather barrier. Another installation material that improves energy efficiency is foam sealant, such as GREAT STUFF (TM) Pro Window & Door Insulating Foam Sealant manufactured by The Dow Chemical Company.

GREAT STUFF when used as directed along with Pella's installation method, creates an energy-efficient barrier by sealing out air and moisture.The menace of moistureToo much moisture in the home can be a menace rather than an advantage. Pets, people and furnishings can all bear the brunt of too much moisture in the air.

Condensation may be less of an issue in older homes if conditions allow for more air exchange between indoors and out, often from around aging, loose or poorly installed windows and doors. However, the tradeoff is higher energy bills.

Newer homes, on the other hand, are more airtight and energy efficient. Many have vapor barriers -- plastic within the wall cavity that blocks moisture passage in either direction. With tighter fitting doors and windows, vapor barriers and increased insulation, energy costs are lower, but humidity levels must be monitored more closely.

No matter when your home was built, the key is to strike the right balance when it comes to humidity levels. Air that's too dry can cause furniture to dry out and crack, joints and studs to shrink and twist, and paint and plaster to crack. Excessive moisture in the home can cause paint to peel and insulation to deteriorate, and condensation on windows and doors can damage sills and trim.

Practical adviceFeeling overwhelmed? Noted architect, author and home design expert, Sarah Susanka says the most important strategy to making an existing house more energy efficient is to recognize that every small step adds up.

"A lot of simple improvements are not done because we believe we should be doing more. And so we do nothing at all," says Susanka. "I'd suggest take the list of options, pin it to your bulletin board, and check off the items as you do them. It's not always the big steps that make the most difference.

"For more information on how you can improve your home and its energy efficiency, contact a local Pella Window & Door store expert by calling (888) 84-PELLA or logging on to www.pella.com.

Courtesy of ARA Content