Creativity is the name of the game, especially in the outdoors, where this year’s whim and fancy can be scrapped and recreated next spring.

Here are ideas from the Associated Landscape Contractors of Colorado (ALCC). Each year, its members identify the top landscape and garden trends. This year’s trends involve keeping things local – from the food you grow in your garden to the entertaining you do in your backyard.

1. Eat locally – out of your own backyard. The momentum for kitchen gardening that started a couple years ago is even stronger as more plants and ways to grow them are available. Plant vegetables throughout your landscape as long as their needs for water and sun are compatible.

2. Insert Your Address Here – is your most affordable vacation destination. With the current economy, many folks are choosing the cozy comforts of home over expensive getaways. Enjoy the tranquility of an Asian garden or the formality of an English estate. Turn your backyard into your own stay-cation. With Colorado’s 300-plus days of sunshine, outdoor living areas can be enjoyed all year as places to kick back, entertain, enjoy and escape.

3. Greening up your landscape. Earth-friendly landscape design and maintenance are stronger than ever. Homeowners want less area to water and maintain and are installing sprinkler systems that operate only when water is needed.

4. For annual color, vast, opulent displays are long gone. For trends in container gardening, look for strategically placed annual flowers for maximum pop. Also look for flower varieties in new combinations that are planted in attention-grabbing containers.

5. Water features are now for everyone. Once a luxury, it is common practice for homeowners to request water features. Coveted for their practicality as much as their aesthetic qualities, water features buffer street traffic, provide ambience and can feature plants that only grow in water – like water lilies. With proper design and installation, they also serve as a water conserving element.

6. Whether it’s your wardrobe or your yard, fashion basics never go out of style. Lush grass that is well maintained through aeration, fertilizer and regular mowing is a timeless standard, as are neatly pruned trees and shrubs.  A colorful palette of flowers and foliage — like any good accessory — makes an eye-catching statement.

7. Light it up. Night lighting that highlights your house and landscape is one of the fastest-growing landscape innovations. Not only does it look great, but it increases home security. And new fluorescent and LED lighting options mean using less electricity. LEDs even come in multiple colors, adding variety.

8. Save money by doing it right the first time. Homeowners who are watching dollars closely are wary of quick, cheap fixes that are short lived. Find the right professional contractor for the job and use durable products that enhance property values, provide ease of maintenance and save money.

9. ‘Curb appeal’ gives your home a competitive sales advantage. According to a home sale study in the Journal of Environmental Horticulture, high-quality landscaping increased home sales prices anywhere from 5.7 to 10.8 percent. Research shows that every $1 spent on landscape returns $1.35. Smart sellers know first impressions are crucial and the best way to improve the first impression is to improve its curb appeal.

10. Gardening with a purpose. Whether planting a kitchen garden to harvest varieties of herbs, creating a meditation garden or designing a yard to attract more wildlife or to be more user-friendly to the family dog, gardening with a purpose is here to stay.

11. Mother Nature’s AC is A-OK. Trees are nature’s canopies for providing shade. An investment in trees provides many returns, including cooling our homes, reducing summer energy costs and improving landscape aesthetics and curb appeal. Before planting a shade tree, be sure to pick one that grows best in Colorado’s arid climate and check that you have enough space as the tree matures – including space for roots.

With more than 700 members across the state, the Associated Landscape Contractors of Colorado is the premier organization for Colorado’s landscape contractors. ALCC has been at the forefront for more than 40 years of helping the landscape industry address Colorado’s unique climate. To find a landscape professional or subscribe to ALCC’s lawn and garden “tip of the week,” visit www.alcc.com.

Photo cutline:
Lindgren Landscape & Irrigation created this gorgeous setting at a Windsor home, providing comfortable outdoor space day or night. Photo by Steve Glass of Glass Photography.

It was hard to believe that new flooring became the deciding factor that convinced somebody to finally make an offer on the house. Even though the old carpet and hardwood looked stain-free on the real estate website, the new flooring apparently made the house eye-catching.

“Many times, old floors just last too long. People become used to the appearance and dinginess as time goes on and they can just as easily keep living on them,” explains Gary Kulhanek, owner of Star Flooring & Design in Boulder. “When floors are finally replaced, it often amazes customers how much difference a new bright floor and its updated color, pattern and design can do for them and their home environment.”
There are some easily identifiable signs that floors need to be replaced. If there are any curled edges, loose spots, buckles, stains, deep gouges, scratches, or very dated patterns and colors, it is time to have a conversation with a flooring professional about your options.

“Generally, we first try to get a feel for the type of look the customer is after and what their situation is,” says Kulhanek, who has more than 45 years of experience in the industry. “We also want to consider how many people will be living in the home. What are their ages? Will there also be pets, and how long do they plan on living there.”

While some big-box chain stores boast bottom-line prices, there may be some unanticipated costs down the road if you’re forced to work with someone other than an experienced craftsman. Plan to work with someone who understands the floor plan at your home and can anticipate the foot and paw traffic the flooring may experience in years to follow.

“Price is always an important factor,” explains Kulhanek. “Flooring is generally a long-term investment and if a customer is down to a couple of choices and the more expensive one is much better for them, it only translates to a small difference over the long run.”

Some homeowners plan to replace the flooring, as well as upgrade by using better materials. For them, Kulhanek has options that are durable, sustainable and comfortable. Heated stone and ceramic tile flooring are currently popular in bathrooms.

“I have seen lots of nice stone floors in bathrooms, but a nice travertine or porcelain floor, electrically heated, is like a whole different floor,” says Kulhanek. “It’s very comfortable to walk on and you’ll be happy you added heat to it for many years to come.”

Replacing or upgrading is immediately satisfying and continuously rewarding. Who wouldn’t be happy to step out of the shower on a snowy winter day and have their feet welcomed by warm tiles?

Casey Cisneros is a Lyons freelance writer.

Bev Moriarty, an interior designer in Highlands Ranch, said warm grays and greens are very popular, and are often accented with rich yellow or eggplant tones. She said wallpaper is still making a slow comeback, but bold wallpaper designs will become a bigger trend in the next couple of years.

Christina Kittelstad of Spiral Design Color Consulting in Lakewood said vibrant greens and violet tones are also being used as accents, and ceilings are a new site for bright accent colors. “It really puts the final touch on a room and can be such a welcome surprise in certain spaces such as recessed ceilings in dining rooms, master bedrooms, porches or nurseries,” she said. “To create a cozier space on high ceilings, use a warm darker color and to lift a low ceiling, paint a lighter, brighter color.”

Kittelstad said such accents won’t hurt resale value, either. “Contrary to popular belief, when used correctly and in small doses, color increases curb appeal and potential buyers take notice,” Kittelstad said.

A few of the hottest new paint brands are Devine Color and Mythic Paint. Devine Color replaces printed color reproductions with handmade artists’ palettes, and the company can mail mini-paint pouches for color testing. Mythic has zero toxins and no odor.

Chalkboard paint also remains popular, both for children’s rooms and large wall calendars for families to list tasks and stay organized.

Despite the expansion of new hardwoods, cork and other flooring surfaces, travertine and other natural stones are still popular for countertops and flooring. However, homeowners also are attracted to less expensive porcelain tiles that mimic the look of natural stone.

Granite is still the much-loved standard for kitchen countertops, according to Case Remodeling, an award-winning national remodeling franchise company. However, new materials are gaining ground, including copper, quartzite and pyrolave, a pricey enameled lava.

Dark cherry and other wood colors are in fashion for cabinets, along with a return to painted finishes.

In bathrooms, freestanding tubs are making a comeback, and large, jetted tubs are not selling as well as in recent years. They require more water, a full bathroom remodel and possibly even a new water heater.

On the other hand, high-tech showers are among the most popular design trends, according to Case. Top-shelf shower upgrades include individually adjustable shower jets lining walls and ceilings; steam baths; sound panels and matching light displays; and customizable shower stalls that can be programmed for each family member. Top-mount vessel sinks are also a big bathroom trend.

Case Remodeling experts are also designing more functional and adjustable lighting combinations in the kitchen. Combining softer ambient lighting with targeted task lighting provides a more comfortable and attractive setting than a set of harsh, white fluorescent tubes in the ceiling.

Moriarty said small halogen lights are popular, particularly focused task lighting. Some homeowners are still reluctant to switch to compact fluorescent light bulbs, but they can still save some energy by switching from traditional incandescent bulbs to halogen.

Steve Graham is a Fort Collins freelance writer.

Photo:
Jeffrey K. Abrams Architect P.C. in Boulder worked with Champion Construction to remodel this entire Golden residence. To meet the needs of the homeowners, the house was transformed from a walkout ranch into a luxurious Country French home. Photos by Don Senia Murray of Don Murray Photography.

Caruso is one of several dedicated kitchen showrooms in the Denver area. Instead of looking for the cheapest product or the latest modern trend, homeowners are increasingly looking to such specialty outlets for durable appliances and simple, elegant designs.

According to a manufacturer survey by Kitchen and Bath Design News, customers are looking for values in the current market, but are willing to pay more for high-quality products that last. Kitchen upgrades are now about doing more with the same space — more convenient, functional appliances, and cabinetry with more creative storage space.

Specialty stores offer a range of appliance sizes to fit existing spaces, rather than designing kitchens around standard appliances. This also makes a standard fridge or other appliance look like a customized, built-in model.

Simple stainless steel appliances will stand the test of time, and can match other similar appliances even if they are not the same brand or product line. Energy-saving appliances are also popular because they offer on-going savings through lower utility bills. According to a recent National Association of Home Builders survey, 75 percent of homeowners would spend more to go green, but only if they can expect a solid return on investment.

A panel of kitchen design experts at the International Builder’s Show this year said smaller and more accessible appliances are the new trend. Homeowners are no longer paying to expand kitchens and add oversized appliances. Smaller fridges are replacing the oversized, industrial-size fridges installed during the housing boom. Also, drawer-style dishwashers and counter-level microwaves are more accessible and convenient for children, disabled or elderly residents. The standard microwave and hood combination over the stove is going out of fashion as it can be inconvenient and even dangerous for kids to use.

For cabinetry, classic and simple styles are more popular than trendy, ornamental looks, according to the manufacturer survey. Less millwork and customization makes basic cabinetry cheaper, and the style will last for many years.

Jacque Parry, a designer at Showplace Kitchens in Parker, said her customers are focusing on storage and functionality. In this economy, most people are remodeling an existing space rather than buying new homes or creating expensive additions. Pull-out storage shelves and other added organization features are popular, allowing customers to fit more in a smaller kitchen space.

Foutz said her customers are shifting toward dark woods, including cocoa brown and espresso finishes.

Maple is possibly the most popular color in cabinetry, but bamboo and lyptus are also popular sustainable options. Showplace Kitchens carries lyptus, a fast-growing eucalyptus variety. It looks similar to mahogany and is as hard as maple, but it matures in 15 years rather than the 70 or 80 years often needed to grow the other woods.

Foutz said she carries some sustainably harvested woods, but customers’ interest typically wanes when they see the extra cost. Unlike energy-saving appliances, sustainable woods don’t bring obvious long-term financial benefits.

Long-term payoffs and durability are the keys to today’s kitchen remodels, and specialty showrooms are the best source for high-quality appliances and fixtures that fit your home and lifestyle.

Steve Graham is a freelance writer from Fort Collins.

Garages

With 400 feet of space in the average two-car garage and up to 750 feet in a three-car garage, most homeowners can create storage that fits their individual needs. The handyman and the gardener might need benches and pegboard, while the active sports enthusiasts might need cabinetry, shelves and suspended hooks.

Bedrooms

Third bedrooms – once popular for collecting anything and everything – are now being converted to offices in record numbers. “We’ve done three offices in the last three weeks,” reports Marty Wehr, owner of Closet & Storage Concepts.

Wehr said the increasing number of telecommuters has reshaped the third bedroom, where a workstation might be set up to accommodate a laptop and stacking trays. Large desks have lost favor to smaller units that are easier to rearrange.

Wehr said homeowners are looking for new ways to store their items. “Some want cabinets below and bookcases above,” he noted.

Closets

Wehr said the “old rod and shelf’ system isn’t adequate to meet the needs in today’s closets. In newer homes and condos, tall ceilings in the closets allow for additional cabinets. “If there are tall ceilings in the closets, we go vertical and maybe put in one wall of cabinets,” Wehr said.

Photo credis: Photos provided by Global Garage and Out of Sight Closets & Garages

His observation stuck with me because everything about our Colorado climate is like the precipitation — there is rarely an average year and nothing is predictable. Every new season brings either feast or famine, droughts or floods, scorching hot summers or early September winters. And when it comes to fall garden preparation, there are certain important considerations that relate to the unpredictable seasons.

Dave Graham, president of Phase One Landscaping in Denver, tries to anticipate the special seasonal needs of his clients’ gardens when fall rolls around each year.

“The main challenge is that we never really know when fall is here, or when winter has arrived,” explains Graham. “Many trees will lose their leaves, while others are holding on.”

No one with a garden wants to throw the towel in too early, but putting off fall yard work until the last minute can also be frustrating. Some even wait until the following spring, but doing so creates lost opportunities and possibly even some consequences for the home landscape.

“Fall preparation is important for the health of the plant material, to avoid spring diseases, and provide a tidy look to your site and garden for the winter,” says Graham.

Many landscaping companies, such as Phase One, are happy to help their clients with the end-of-season cleanup and prep work. However, for homeowners who find solace and enjoyment working in their yards, Graham has a list of tasks that will ensure a healthy, robust lawn and

garden the following year.

One thing that most people have been pre-conditioned to do in the fall is rake up the fallen leaves. Not only does this keep the lawn looking clean and kempt, but it also takes away a place for pests and plant diseases to hibernate over the winter.

The soil must be turned over in vegetable gardens at the end of the season. This will help remaining organic matter break down over the winter, enriching the soil with nitrogen and other organic nutrients.

In native sod lawns, it is important to plant your warm season grass seed, such as blue granma or buffalo grass, in the late fall so that it can benefit from the snow cover and early spring precipitation. The lawn should also have a “winterizer” fertilizer applied and be aerated.

Wrapping the trunks of young ornamental trees will prevent sunscald. This is necessary for deciduous trees that have a thin layer of bark, such as locusts, fruit trees and ashes. Also taper down the use of fertilizers on trees and shrubs in the fall so that they can go into dormancy.

Lay down mulch around roses and other tender perennial plants that have to be dug up and moved to a frost-protected location.

Some benefits of fall garden preparation can be more immediate. Graham emphasized that even with early freezes, the gardening season doesn’t have to end.  “These conditions create a situation where if we protect our annuals and irrigation systems against overnight freezes, we can enjoy a very extended summer season,” said Graham.

If the cold, wet unpredictable spring of 2010 is any indicator of the fall that will ensue, Graham and other landscaping pros will be in great demand.

Casey Cisneros is a freelance writer from Lyons.

First photo provided by Phase One Landscapes

Hanley Wood issues the annual Cost vs. Value report, which surveys members of the National Association of Realtors about the changes in anticipated resale value based on specific remodeling projects. According to the report, a wood deck addition brings the greatest boost in resale value — often for less than $10,000.

Ben Maxwell of Dovetail Homes agrees. Dovetail works on both whole-house remodels and smaller projects in various price ranges throughout the metro area. “Creating an outdoor living space is huge,” Maxwell said, adding that either a front patio or backyard deck can bring a return on investment above 100 percent.

New siding is another relatively inexpensive project with a high return on investment. “If the siding is falling apart, it really dates the home,” Maxwell said.
Both projects will give buyers a good impression before they even enter the house. Denver real estate agent Bill Fung emphasized the value of first impressions. “Make sure the entryway area is bright, clean and uncluttered,” he said.

The Cost vs. Value report’s regional breakdown suggests a $60,000 basement remodel brings a higher-than-average rate of return in the Denver area. Most figures for the Rocky Mountain region match national averages, but roof replacements and basements bring a greater return on investment in the Colorado region than in other areas.

Maxwell disagrees. He said larger homes typically have enough living space on the main levels, and a top-of-the-line basement may be extraneous. Likewise, a large, expensive addition or second floor is unlikely to offer a full payback in resale value. An exception is the addition of a garage to an older home near central Denver, where few homes have enclosed garages.

To be sure, kitchen and bathroom remodels offer solid return on investment — to a point. Expensive custom cabinetry with built-in wine rack and spice holders is unlikely to increase sale values enough to justify the high cost.

Simpler upgrades such as new lighting and plumbing fixtures, on the other hand, can attract buyers and make the difference between weeks and months on the market. Fung said upgrades as cheap and simple as drawer handles and showerheads can make a difference in selling a house.

Maxwell said dark cabinetry, bright paint, tile backsplashes and stainless steel appliances are popular kitchen upgrades in Colorado. He noted that granite, tile and other quality materials show little wear, so homeowners should enjoy their new kitchen or bathroom for a couple of years before selling. Fung also recommends cheap, simple upgrades shortly before selling a house, such as a new closet organizer or shelves, and new doorknobs.

A slumping housing market is certainly reducing the return on investment of remodeling. For example, a new deck generated a 104 percent return on investment in 2004, according to the Cost vs. Value report. The latest report estimates an 82 percent return on investment. Still, a remodel can make the difference between a rapid sale and months of inactivity.

For the full Cost vs. Value report, visit www.remodeling.hw.net

Mary Jane Fletcher, manager of the Northstar Lighting Design store in Westminster, said the most popular lighting fixtures have clean lines and a “warm contemporary feel.” Hubbardton Forge exemplifies the style, she said. Northstar sells the company’s products, which are hand-crafted in Vermont.

Donna Dones of Galleria Lighting and Design in Denver said simple, elegant fixtures with fewer curves are replacing Tuscan styles and ornate fixtures. However, no single style suits every home.

“Houses and spaces are like people,” Dones said. “They have their own idiosyncrasies and they speak to you. … There is nothing I steer people away from.”

Instead, she focuses on lighting that complements a range of styles and furniture layouts. Otherwise, a room will be less functional.

“When your lighting is wrong, you tend not to use the space and you don’t even know what’s wrong,” Dones said. “Most of the time it’s the lighting.”

Fletcher said homeowners are typically updating their kitchens and bathrooms with bright fixtures that match the rest of the room’s décor and illuminate the right areas.

“People come in saying ‘I love my light fixture but it doesn’t function,’” Fletcher said.

Art glass and creative stonework are the latest additions to some lighting lines. Hand-blown glass, stone mosaics and onyx are especially popular for kitchen islands, where cooks want bright light but also want artistic additions and flair.

The green movement is driving buzz around compact fluorescent light bulbs, but the hype may not be translating to sales. The U.S. Department of Energy reported a drop in CFL sales in 2008.

Some blame the recession but Fletcher offers another reason. Dimmable CFLs are still expensive, so they are not in widespread use for living and dining rooms or other areas where adjustable lighting is important.

Dones dislikes the color and quality of CFL light output. She said it is too white, and not warm enough. She said it can ruin the colors in paintings or colored walls.

The next green trend is likely to be light-emitting diodes, which use roughly 10 to 20 percent of the energy of an incandescent bulb. The bright, low-energy lighting is widely used for stoplights, billboards and other industrial applications, but is too expensive for most homeowners. Ledtronics of California sells LED chandelier bulbs for $50 each and dimmable task lights for $55 each.

Some designers are looking forward to LED prices dropping.

“LEDs (light-emitting diodes) are about to become a huge light source in buildings,” said Stephen Kohlbeck of Tilde Design Studio in Denver. “To me, they are the best type of showcase and art lighting.”

On the other hand, Dones steers her clients away from LEDs in remodeling projects, even if they are trying to join the green movement.

“Everybody jumps on the band wagon,” she said. “But (LED lighting) doesn’t go with anything and it costs too much.”

She said the bulbs sometimes work for inconspicuous spots, such as recessed lights and under-cabinet lighting. Otherwise, LEDs are too “architectural” and cold.

She said some customers are happy to find a remodeling consultant who isn’t following environmental trends.

“Somebody told me the other day, ‘There’s enough people going green that you don’t have to,’” Dones said.

All designs and images © 1989-2009 Hubbardton Forge®. All rights reserved.

It is also Randy Shelton’s goal. The Bucklands’ project earned his company, GRC Builders, first place in the basement remodel luxury category at the 2009 Colorado Awards for Remodeling Excellence.

Randy and Lisa Shelton founded GRC Builders in 1990. Randy’s father was a Denver homebuilder. Lisa previously worked with several architectural firms in the Denver area, and has a background in interior design, fine arts and art history.

Both Randy and Lisa work closely with homeowners. Lisa said they provide male and female perspectives, as well as both aesthetic and structural input on remodeling projects. “We started out doing custom homes, so we know what can happen if you finish a basement incorrectly,” she said.

The main aesthetic goal for the Buckland project was to continue the classic Old World look of the main floor and the exterior. Shelton said she was initially surprised by the young couple’s traditional, “masculine” style, but enjoyed the challenge of continuing the look in the basement.

“We didn’t’ want it to feel like culture shock,” she said. GRC matched the wood, wrought-iron and stucco throughout the house, as well as the arches and exposed stone of the exterior.
“I gave them a conception of what I wanted,” Mac Buckland said. “They came back and nailed it. It was exactly what I wanted. It feels like an extension of the upstairs.”

GRC Builders finished 1,720 square feet in the basement, and the four-month project cost $132,790. The challenge in a basement is always making it look like it’s not a basement despite the posts, beams, heat runs and other structural features. The Buckland basement now looks more like an upscale European tavern than a basement.

The granite-topped bar looks over the pool table, entertainment center and gas fireplace. The bar also takes advantage of existing windows. Shelton said the low windows created a challenge when trying to add knotty walnut cabinets and spaces for a refrigerator, microwave and other appliances. The bar also has a hand-crafted copper sink and an arch over the countertop.

A walk-in stone-and-stucco wine cellar is another highlight of the project. The cellar has a locked gate with wrought-iron finishes. The locks don’t always keep the 4- and 7-year-old Buckland children from playing in the dark stone cave, even though they have a craft room and another hidden playroom area under the stairs with a specialized 4-foot-tall cottage door entry.

Shelton said the kids already spent time in the unfinished basement prior to the remodel, but “we made it way more pleasant to play down there.” The kids play in the basement every day — doing crafts, playing with toys or playing Nintendo Wii video games on the big-screen TV. “They love it,” Buckland said.

Buckland loves that the bar has so many appliances and conveniences that he can entertain in the basement without running up to the kitchen or bathroom.

“When we’re down there, we don’t have to leave. We don’t have to go upstairs,” he said.

He also appreciated regular, open communication with the GRC team. He said the project’s cost matched the estimate, and carefully accounted for every item. “Randy has the numbers down to the screws,” he said. “The other companies had a lot of fluff.”

Shelton said her company is more interested on communication with clients than finding top-shelf projects. She said she was proud to beat out specialized basement remodelers for the top prize in the Colorado Awards for Remodeling Excellence. She said GRC’s contracts are fairly evenly split between basements, kitchens, bathrooms and additions, but most of the firm’s basement work is simple finishing. “We do every regular Joe’s basement all day long,” she said, adding that larger projects are rare.

Steve Graham is a Fort Collins-based freelance writer.

Photos provided by GRC Builders

The high-tech world of home automation reached a new plateau in the last four years, says Brian Richards, president of Precision Media Solutions in Lakewood. Because all home electronics can now be network based through the wonders of the Internet, all systems can be easily upgraded as technology leaps further into the future.

To get started, Richards favors the Kaleidescape System, which easily categorizes movies and music that can be accessed throughout your home. It’s especially useful to those who have difficulty finding and managing their DVD collection. Enjoy the movie experience throughout the home without a bunch of bulky boxes that take up space. Forget about storing your DVD collection. All of your media is loaded into the Kaleidiscape Hard Drive System, which offers some fun features. The Kaleidescape Movie Guide Service provides video bookmarks that let you jump to where you left off, or to your favorite movie scene. And of course there are no trailers, ads or menus to deal with.

Now throw in an Apple TV, which is a cost effective solution for any home. For as little as $229, you can browse iTunes on your television. In addition you can rent high-definition movies on screen for just $4.99. The Apple TV also pulls all of your photos off your home computer and displays them in folders on your TV. Then you can watch a slideshow presentation of your photos with music, which is fun for parties or showing off your recent vacation photos on a large screen.

Richards says the trend toward Apple products has made life easier for his clients, particularly with the iPhone, which can be used to control your in-house electronics system, either in the home, or from anywhere in the world where you have cell service. “We are talking a lot of our clients into switching to iPhone’s, and if they don’t want to switch, we just get them an iPod Touch for about $250, Richards says. “We are finding that our clients love being able to be the mobile DJ in their home wherever they take their iPhone.”

Of course your motorized shades, lighting control, security and HVAC can all be controlled with similar ease. What about a high-tech baby monitor (we don’t suggest monitoring your teenager’s domain though it sometimes seems necessary)? Again, the monitor can be part of the system by using the intercom feature. “Higher end systems allow control of everything in the home from one touchscreen … and it can all be retrofit,” Richards points out. And if you understand the basics of an iPhone, you’ll be able to run systems throughout your entire house. User-friendly is the name of the game. “It takes very little training for the client to run it. And every room operates the same way,” Richards says.

Although the Apple products mentioned above will cost less than $500, it’s easy to spend  $10,000 on a Kaleidescape system with a few accessories. Wiring a large home from the ground up with top-of-line options for every member of the family can jump to $100,000 and up very easily.

Equipment controlling the house can be hidden in storage rooms, basements or in closets.

Hiding flat screens and other components also has become popular, Richards says. A television can fold down from the ceiling, be recessed in a wall, pop up from a cabinet or be found in a nicely framed mirror.

So the next time a home remodel is in order, or you just need to put a little more juice into your media system, consider the advantages of creating a network-based system that can be expanded for years to come. However, there’s a warning: touch-screen control from any room in the house might be very addictive for the movie or music buff that just can’t get enough.