Renew • Colorado's Remodeling Magazine

RAD

JBL’s Radial high-performance loudspeaker can stand alone, connect to a computer or be used with a television to enhance games and other entertainment. Its sleek design helps expand sound throughout a room. www.jbl.com or 303-320-9191

WARM UP

This Denver home receives 100 percent of its electricity from its solar array. The system produces an average of 375 kilowatt-hours each month, according to Standard Renewable Energy. www.sre3.com or 303-449-1965.

PEACHEY

Handcrafted Peachtree Doors and Windows will wow your guests inside and out. From the firm’s EasyCare glass to its high-performance sill systems, Peachtree products are designed to keep the heated or cooled air inside despite the outdoor temperatures. 303-377-8566.

FIBER

Looking for a fiberglass door that is durable, secure, well insulated and less expensive than most wood doors? www.martindalewindow.com or
800-298-0832.

COVERAGE

Lattice and other shade covers don’t have to be boring or just like other homes in the neighborhood. Colors and styles abound. www.professionalsidinginc.com or 303-576-9175.

OUT OF SIGHT

Clear counter space with the Bosch built-in Benvenuto Coffee Machine. It makes sense to tuck the machine into overhead space the next time a kitchen remodel is considered. www.boschappliances.com or 303-370-4484.

RELAX

The Polywood Adirondack chair and side table provides a quick, comfortable solution for lawn or deck furniture. www.christysports.com.

STONE

Swanstone has been a quiet leader in the kitchen and bath industry. Clean lines are combined with durability. www.dreammaker-remodel.com or 303-404-3625.

PROJECTION

One of the world’s smallest and lightest LCD projectors, the Sanyo PLCXW60 weighs just 3.6 pounds and offers a variety of high-tech, convenient features. www.sanyo.com.

Posted on 02 May 2008

RAD

JBL’s Radial high-performance loudspeaker can stand alone, connect to a computer or be used with a television to enhance games and other entertainment. Its sleek design helps expand sound throughout a room. www.jbl.com or 303-320-9191

WARM UP

This Denver home receives 100 percent of its electricity from its solar array. The system produces an average of 375 kilowatt-hours each month, according to Standard Renewable Energy. www.sre3.com or 303-449-1965.

PEACHEY

Handcrafted Peachtree Doors and Windows will wow your guests inside and out. From the firm’s EasyCare glass to its high-performance sill systems, Peachtree products are designed to keep the heated or cooled air inside despite the outdoor temperatures. 303-377-8566.

FIBER

Looking for a fiberglass door that is durable, secure, well insulated and less expensive than most wood doors? www.martindalewindow.com or
800-298-0832.

COVERAGE

Lattice and other shade covers don’t have to be boring or just like other homes in the neighborhood. Colors and styles abound. www.professionalsidinginc.com or 303-576-9175.

OUT OF SIGHT

Clear counter space with the Bosch built-in Benvenuto Coffee Machine. It makes sense to tuck the machine into overhead space the next time a kitchen remodel is considered. www.boschappliances.com or 303-370-4484.

RELAX

The Polywood Adirondack chair and side table provides a quick, comfortable solution for lawn or deck furniture. www.christysports.com.

STONE

Swanstone has been a quiet leader in the kitchen and bath industry. Clean lines are combined with durability. www.dreammaker-remodel.com or 303-404-3625.

PROJECTION

One of the world’s smallest and lightest LCD projectors, the Sanyo PLCXW60 weighs just 3.6 pounds and offers a variety of high-tech, convenient features. www.sanyo.com.

Posted on 02 May 2008

Let’s have a show of hands: Who is going to remodel their home in the next six months? Before you raise a hand or tuck it in your pocket, think about the last six months. Most of us have done something to our homes in the last six months, if not, then we probably will in the next six.

Siding, a new roof, landscaping, carpet, appliances, artwork or new furniture: all of these items fall into the remodeling category. Additionally, every few years most of us will jump into bigger projects, such as kitchens, baths or basements.

Just because the new housing market is down, it doesn’t mean it’s a bad time to remodel, especially this time of year.

During spring we tend to discover our home’s potential. It comes with the turf in Colorado, where people take advantage of the change of seasons. Does the old garden and landscape need to be thought about in a different way? Would a different color trim make the house stand out? Would the home-office addition open up career choices that seem just out of reach? It’s the time of year in which we find the things that we’ve ignored throughout the winter and give them some serious thought.

For many people, it makes sense to spend money renewing their current home rather than trying to sell it. The investment pays off in two ways. Remodeling one’s home means you have a better place to live. When it’s all broken down, remodeling your home can cost considerably less than buying new. That’s especially true for those who live in strong neighborhoods where values are likely to ascend when the housing market improves. Secondly, when the time comes to sell, you will have a better “product.” Who knows where the new-housing market goes from here? If one listens to the experts, it could be a decade before it rebounds.

Whether you are planning a quick improvement by painting, or seeking to make structural changes with an addition, spring is a good time to renew your property.

Joe Ross
Renew editor

Posted on 01 May 2008