With the available information about design and green building practices, homeowners are becoming increasingly aware of the different certification processes for Energy Star, Earth Advantage, and LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design.) While there is value in pursuing these certifications, there are everyday opportunities to incorporate green features into your home just by looking in your own backyard. These two success stories reveal easy ways to add sustainability to a home improvement... more

In the past few years “green” eco-friendly buildings have been receiving a lot of notice. Most of this attention has been directed at constructing new green buildings. But those wanting to restore an older house or business are also finding more products and services available to them. Cork flooring was used extensively in mid-century homes and is popular again today as a green alternative.Photo courtesy of Arciform LLC Refurbishing older cabinets, rather than replacing them... more

Ask designers Rhonda Knoche and Anne De Wolf about kitchen trends, and you’ll get at least a moment’s hesitation before they reply. That almost imperceptible moment of silence has nothing to do with their knowledge. Both can readily answer questions about kitchens from floor to ceiling, including historic design, structure, appliance features, efficiency, and ecology, but trends — well, both prefer to make things a bit more personal. This open kitchen and family room shows one family’s... more

The kitchen is the area of the historic house that is most likely to have been remodeled over time. Many of these improvements were unnecessary at best. Today, more and more people are returning their kitchens to an appearance more in keeping with the age of their home. Others who are lucky enough to have original features are devising new ways to preserve them, while making the kitchen more functional to modern life. First, let’s take a look at some of the kitchen styles and ages most commonly... more

You may find that the short days of winter, when it seems like you go to and come from work in the dark, are the perfect time to consider warming up your house with new lighting. If you are thinking about making a lighting change, consider your current fixtures and determine your game plan. Do you need to increase the amount of light? Warm up or tone down the light, or just update to more attractive light fixtures and shades? An overall lighting goal is a good idea even if you are only preparing... more

For three days in November 2007, over 900 vendors of green and sustainable building materials and services converged on Chicago’s McCormick Place. According to the US Green Building Council’s website (www.greenbuildexpo.com), the “USGBC’s Greenbuild Conference and Expo was an unparalleled opportunity to connect with other green building peers, industry experts, and influential leaders as they shared insights on the green building movement and its diverse specialties.” Many new products... more

Several companies manufacture rubber roofs from recycled tires. These products are durable (many come with 50-year warranties), as well as fire and wind resistant. Metal Roofing With a long life, metal roofs keep composite material out of our landfills. Also 100% of the material used is recyclable. Solar-Powered Attic Fan Make your home more energy effcient and save money too. Attic fans operate by solar power from sunrise to sunset at no extra cost. It’s possible to reduce the workload on... more

What goes around comes around. It’s an old saying, and these days it applies to youthful homeowners and apartment dwellers alike who are seeking to re-capture the moment when I Love Lucy ruled the airwaves and foil-wrapped TV dinners — served on TV trays — were an amazing innovation. For baby-boomers who grew up with the eye-jarring bubblegum pink bathrooms of the 1950s or the soothing lines of minimalist furniture that distinguished the 1960s, this fashion re-run is inexplicable. But the look... more