Every year when January rolls around you vow to lose weight, save money or spend more time with family and friends. But what goals do you set for your home?

In the spirit of new beginnings, I sat down and came up with some resolutions that will make your home a more beautiful, efficient, clean and a simple place in the coming year.

Here are our five picks for the best home improvement resolutions for the new year and how to achieve them:

1: Streamline the stuff

One of the best and least expensive ways to feel better about your home is to clear it of clutter.

See more of our bathroom renovations

Each year most of us acquire a mountain of stuff. Without some regular purging, cabinets and drawers get jam-packed and it becomes hard to find the things you use and enjoy the most. (All that clutter also makes your house look dated and dirty, designers say.)

This year resolve to go room-by-room periodically clearing anything that you don’t use, wear or love and donate it to charity. After that, think twice about what you bring in. Fill your home with the things that raise your energy level and make you feel good, and get rid of the things that drain your energy or are broken,” she says.

Stash useful (but not beautiful) items such as towels, toilet paper, lotions, shampoo and soaps. Clear your counters of everything you don’t use on a daily basis. And get ready to breathe a little easier in your own home.

2: Make it safe and sound

Your home may be beautiful, but is it safe? There are a few things that every homeowner should do to ensure that they’re not living with a potential health hazard or fire risk.

First, check your house for radon. This colorless, odorless gas causes about 21,000 lung cancer deaths each year from the radioactive particles it traps in your lungs as you breathe, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. One in every fifteen homes has elevated levels. And with test kits costing as little as $20 at your local hardware store, there’s no reason not to get right on that.

While we’re on the subject of deadly gas, make sure you install a carbon monoxide detector on every bedroom floor in addition to fire detectors. If a chimney flue or furnace vent gets blocked or leaks, carbon monoxide could back up in your house and kill you. Like a radon test, this is a small investment — $40 or more — for such an important safeguard.

Watch out for dryer lint. We know you clean the little trap inside the door, but most people neglect to clean the vents and ducts behind the dryer. Lint may seem innocent, but it’s highly combustible, according to the U.S. Fire Administration, accounting for more than 15,000 building fires a year.

Make sure your house can breathe. Hickory Hills, Ill. home inspector Jack McGraw is always surprised at how many people’s bathrooms and attics aren’t vented to the outside (or the vents are covered over with shingles.) This makes you a prime candidate for mold.

And if you’re considering a remodel — and your home was last built or remodeled before 1978 — consider testing for lead paint and asbestos flooring. It will have to handled properly during removal, or particles can be released into the air for you to ingest.

3: Shrink your bills (and your carbon footprint in the process)

When people think of going green, they often think it takes solar panels or a hybrid car to make a difference.

Not so, it just takes a little old-fashioned common sense.

The best place to start is by cutting your energy usage in your home:

• Remember your mom’s advice and switch off the lights when you leave a room.
• Turn off your air conditioner when you leave the house and dial your heater down to 55 degrees at night.
• Install LED bulbs and low-flow showerheads.
• Try drying some of your clothes on the line and wait for the dishwasher or washing machine to be full before you run them.
• Turn off your power strips and/or set your home computer to revert to sleep mode when not in use.
• Water your yard less. Put in drought-tolerant landscaping if necessary.
• Give composting a try. Your garden will thank you.

4: Work out a weekly system for keeping your house clean

Here are a few tips for keeping the mess under control from Jeff Campbell, author of the book Speed Cleaning and owner of the Clean Team housekeeping service in San Francisco.

Daily: Dishes go in the dishwasher every night – no excuses! Dirty clothes go in the hamper and jackets or clean clothes are hung in the closet. Bring everything back to its assigned place.

Weekly: Clean your entire house, using these tips:

– Keep all of your cleaners, as well as rubber gloves and spare cleaning cloths – in a portable carryall that moves with you from room to room.

– Stash cleaning implements such as a toothbrush, scraper, sponge, a few cleaning cloths and plastic bags in a builder’s apron that you wear when you clean. Hook your glass cleaner and all-purpose cleaning spray on the loops to keep your hands free as you work around the room clockwise, cleaning from high (cabinets) to low (floors.)

– Focus on one type of cleaning at a time. It’s faster, Campbell says. Wipe down fingerprints on all of the cabinets, for instance, before moving on to spraying and wiping counters. Then move on to windows and mirrors and appliances. Once that’s done move on to sweeping and then mopping floors.

– For optimum efficiency, enlist the help of your family. If you can, divide the jobs among at least three parties: One of you can do the dusting/vacuuming and changing beds, the other can do the bathroom cleanup, leaving only the kitchen and trash emptying for you to handle. The upside? You can get the whole house done in 45 minutes, Campbell says, leaving more time on the weekends for the park or the movies.

5: Get your place ready for entertaining

Each year most of us vow to spend more time with family and friends. To make you feel like inviting people in, why not give the areas you entertain in a little update?

You don’t have go for broke here and invest in a new kitchen remodel. All it takes to get a fresh new look is a little bit of rearranging and a few updates, says Kitchen Designer, Nancy Jacobson of Kitchen design Partners.

See this project and other kitchen renovations!

One easy update that makes your home seem more “finished” is the addition of plants, she says.

“They bring in new energy and help clean the air,” she says. “And it’s a great way to decorate if you’re on a budget.”

A couple of dramatic presentations like a large flowering agapanthus or potted palm in a bright ceramic planter that complements your existing color scheme will do the trick.

Pulling out a new accent color from your existing decor can make the whole room seem fresh. Pick an underused color in the room and add more of it in the form of a new pillow or throw to update your look. A colorful rug or runner can also help anchor your space.

If you have an idea or would like to be a guest blogger, please reach out to me. I enjoy sharing.

Michael                                                                                                                                              

The post 5 New Year’s Resolutions for Your Home appeared first on Michael Menn Ltd. Architecture-Construction-Excellence.

Having said that, though, I believe – and my spouse agrees to a point – that having your home renovated is like giving birth.  Follow along with the analogy, and see if you agree.

The childbirth process starts with the woman finding out she is pregnant.  The initial emotions are joy and excitement; something new and wonderful is about to happen.  Time is spent talking and making plans.  If not shopping for “baby stuff,” you are at least window shopping.  This is one of the most enjoyable parts of the experience.

So too with a renovation project.  Something new and wonderful is going to happen.  You plan; you pick out the items that are going to be part of the renovation.  It’s exciting!

Then comes the first trimester, or the beginning of the job.  Reality sets in.  A woman’s feet swell.  She has morning sickness.  She starts getting uncomfortable.  Not fun.  In a renovation, the exciting design work has been completed.  Now you are in the middle of demolition Demolition can be a challenging part of the renovation process but of course we know how important it is to have as little disruption as possible of your normal flow of life.

In the second trimester, my wife says, women like to nest.  My wife used this time to look for cribs, furniture, worked on decorating the nursery, etc.  My wife’s demeanor had changed drastically; she was more relaxed about the pregnancy and life in general.

Think of the period right after demolition as the second trimester of the renovation project.  You are establishing the backbone of the job; rough carpentry, electrical, plumbing and HVAC are being worked on.  Additionally, you should be buttoning up the last of any open design decisions.  You are now more relaxed with us working in your personal environment as well.

Well, then its time for the last trimester.  What does a pregnant woman experience?  Discomfort…misery…frustration.  “I just want this thing out of me.”  The emotions undoubtedly are warranted.

Clients are experiencing similar emotions as the remodeling job nears completion. At Michael Menn Ltd., we call it the E.J.S. (end-of-job-syndrome).  It’s the time our clients are sick and tired of waking up everyday and seeing Bob the carpenter in their house.  “I just want you out of my house,” they seem to be saying with every passing day.

But then…one last sharp, intense, mind-blowing burst of pain.  And then you are looking at the most beautiful and precious thing in the world…your new baby.  The swollen feet, the weight gain, the lack of sleep – they are all distant memories.

Now, the joy of seeing a beautifully remodeled home cannot compare to the miracle of childbirth.  But, similarly when you see your beautifully renovated home, chances are you will have forgotten about the dust and demolition, and even Bob the carpenter.

The moral: keep reminding yourself that the remodeling project – just like pregnancy – is a process that is worth the ups and downs. And our job – just like the job of the husband or partner – is to be sympathetic to the pain, get you ice cream if you need it, and to gently remind you to keep focusing on the end result.
Sincerely,

Michael

The post A Great Analogy? appeared first on Michael Menn Ltd. Architecture-Construction-Excellence.

Having said that, though, I believe – and my spouse agrees to a point – that having your home renovated is like giving birth.  Follow along with the analogy, and see if you agree.

The childbirth process starts with the woman finding out she is pregnant.  The initial emotions are joy and excitement; something new and wonderful is about to happen.  Time is spent talking and making plans.  If not shopping for “baby stuff,” you are at least window shopping.  This is one of the most enjoyable parts of the experience.

So too with a renovation project.  Something new and wonderful is going to happen.  You plan; you pick out the items that are going to be part of the renovation.  It’s exciting!

Then comes the first trimester, or the beginning of the job.  Reality sets in.  A woman’s feet swell.  She has morning sickness.  She starts getting uncomfortable.  Not fun.  In a renovation, the exciting design work has been completed.  Now you are in the middle of demolition Demolition can be a challenging part of the renovation process but of course we know how important it is to have as little disruption as possible of your normal flow of life.

In the second trimester, my wife says, women like to nest.  My wife used this time to look for cribs, furniture, worked on decorating the nursery, etc.  My wife’s demeanor had changed drastically; she was more relaxed about the pregnancy and life in general.

Think of the period right after demolition as the second trimester of the renovation project.  You are establishing the backbone of the job; rough carpentry, electrical, plumbing and HVAC are being worked on.  Additionally, you should be buttoning up the last of any open design decisions.  You are now more relaxed with us working in your personal environment as well.

Well, then its time for the last trimester.  What does a pregnant woman experience?  Discomfort…misery…frustration.  “I just want this thing out of me.”  The emotions undoubtedly are warranted.

Clients are experiencing similar emotions as the remodeling job nears completion. At Michael Menn Ltd., we call it the E.J.S. (end-of-job-syndrome).  It’s the time our clients are sick and tired of waking up everyday and seeing Bob the carpenter in their house.  “I just want you out of my house,” they seem to be saying with every passing day.

But then…one last sharp, intense, mind-blowing burst of pain.  And then you are looking at the most beautiful and precious thing in the world…your new baby.  The swollen feet, the weight gain, the lack of sleep – they are all distant memories.

Now, the joy of seeing a beautifully remodeled home cannot compare to the miracle of childbirth.  But, similarly when you see your beautifully renovated home, chances are you will have forgotten about the dust and demolition, and even Bob the carpenter.

The moral: keep reminding yourself that the remodeling project – just like pregnancy – is a process that is worth the ups and downs. And our job – just like the job of the husband or partner – is to be sympathetic to the pain, get you ice cream if you need it, and to gently remind you to keep focusing on the end result.
Sincerely,

Michael

The post A Great Analogy? appeared first on Michael Menn Ltd. Architecture-Construction-Excellence.

This was my twentieth consecutive year and I walked away with a new sense of reinvigoration and design practicality. If you are planning to build or remodel a kitchen, you will be right on trend if you choose white cabinets – no wait, make that dark brown!  White cabinetry will always be in style, but there has been a rise in dark brown kitchens winning award after award.

Some of the trends that are selling houses today are: the inclusion of large walk-in pantries and the reduction in the actual number of cabinets being used in the Kitchen, more sensible bathrooms and comfy doggy digs.

Practical floor plans were the subject of a seminar I took. Where the 1990s and early 2000s were all about excess in home building (bigger is better syndrome), a new sobriety has settled in and focused on maximizing the utility of every square inch of the floor plan. Consumers have spoken and the Dining Room and Living Room have been ditched in lieu of an open area that encompasses the Kitchen, Family Room and a single Dining Area.

See the rest of this project on Houzz.

One of the things that many homebuilders have noticed is that they have neglected to factor in the family pet in their designs. With 39% of American households having pets, and consumers spending $51 billion on pets in 2011, creating designated pet areas somewhere in the house is a an element that consumers are demanding. The place that we incorporate pets is the “Family Foyer,” This is the area that has morphed from the Laundry Room and transition space from the Garage into the family hub where the pets hang out and eat, the drop zone for backpacks, cell phones and daily belongings.

The next design idea that is becoming more dominant is ‘Open Space’. Forget about kitchens with small tables for two or four, we are now creating kitchens that have Breakfast Nooks that seat 10 or 12 and these are becoming the main dining area for small or large gatherings.  Elaborate pantries are being incorporated so that we can cut back on expensive kitchen cabinetry. Clients don’t care as much about the cabinets themselves, but about having more space in the Kitchen.

See the rest of this project on our Houzz page.

Other trends being incorporated are the use of white Carrara marble in lieu of granite for countertops in Kitchens and Bathrooms. “White is still everything!” said Karen Kassik a designer I know form Anchorage, Alaska and the Best in American Living Awards Judge. Master Baths, which during the McMansion era, were expensive glitter palaces with chandeliers and crystal sconces are being designed smaller and more practical. Of note, was the lack of bookcases being included in new home designs. I am assuming that with the rise of e-books and e-book readers, there are actually less real books in a house, and hence the obituary of the bookcase.

So in a nutshell, what is selling are fewer kitchen cabinets, smaller, more sensible bathrooms and comfy doggy digs.

Practically,

Michael

The post Design Trends – Design Practicality appeared first on Michael Menn Ltd. Architecture-Construction-Excellence.

Instead, clients are demanding designs that are customized to create environments that meet their unique and what some might even call atypical lifestyles.

As a design professional, I crave these opportunities, because they let me flex my creative muscles and provide the personalized design that is the essence of what I do.  These opportunities also allow me to solve challenges I would not encounter in a more “traditional” project.

Recently I had such an opportunity to flex my creative muscles and create a unique living environment.  Before I tell you what I did, let’s review what I mean by a more “traditional project.

Spaces in the 80’s and 90’s were designed around the themes of “bigger is better” and “formal is better.”  It was not uncommon to see massive kitchens that would not have been out of place in an upscale restaurant, and bathrooms that featured swimming pool sized tubs and showers that resembled car washes.  Formal areas such as the living room and dining room were designed with the apparent goal of replicating palaces or museums.  Bedrooms were small, and a place to sleep.  If I could not design to those specifications, I would be in trouble.

Today, our lifestyles are different.  We spend most time in the kitchen or the family room, so we want those rooms to be functional, attractive and comfortable.  But they do not have to be huge and certainly not formal.  Bedrooms still are usually the place to sleep, except for the Master Suite.

So imagine my excitement when a client came to us with a request to complete a whole house transformation with the cornerstone being the creation of a Master Suite that would provide the perfect refuge for relaxation and rejuvenation of the body and soul.

Now I understand that this is not the “typical” project.  So I should tell you that our clients both lead chaotic lives with great mental and physical demands.  They wanted and needed a sanctuary, and they wanted that to be the Master Suite.  We accomplished this through structural change, the inclusion of critical functional elements, and the creation of a warm, inviting environment.

The structural changes allowed us to create a “bigger is better” living area.  I created a 1,500 SF Master Suite from what had been a much smaller area.  I took attic space and converted it to the husband’s closet.  A small Kitchenette (yes, a Kitchenette in the Master Suite) was hidden behind one of the walnut walls, and an exterior Balcony was converted into the Sitting Room.  Additionally, the Master Bath Foyer was defined and refined by adding a towel storage cabinet and adding a pair of pocket doors adjacent to the Bedroom.

There were also some functional “creature comforts” that were integrated to enhance the experience such as a towel warming drawer in the Master Bath, heated floors in the Sitting Room and Master Bath, a multi-component shower system with different shower settings for the husband and wife, and a structured wiring system that controls everything from the HVAC to the lighting to a whole house I-Pod dock system.

To create the warm, inviting environment the homeowners wanted, the suite evokes the essence of a European spa.  We used strong, clean lines, soft edges and various materials throughout the suite to evoke that essence.  Within the Master Bedroom/Bathroom we incorporated walnut cabinetry, Jerusalem stone, pillowed marble and mosaic tiles.  The resulting aesthetics were a result of the marriage of a variety of textures and materials.  Throughout the suite we employed a neutral palette to enhance the warmth of the space.

Embrace the changing desires of your clients and create something excellent.  Great design is about creating a true, living reflection of the people who live in the space.

Professionally, I am very proud of what was created.  But even more satisfying was the comment from the husband when the job was done.   “Most people look forward to going on vacation to get away.  Here we have a sense of peace and relaxation every day.”

Sincerely,
Michael

The post Embracing Excellence appeared first on Michael Menn Ltd. Architecture-Construction-Excellence.