Home Improvements

Home is where the heart is.” A cliché, but we like to think it true. Your home base provides your family one of life’s basic necessities—shelter; but ideally, it also reflects your personal style and makes home life, from daily chores to much needed relaxation, as comfortable as possible.

When the economy gets tight, improving your home becomes even more important, but there is a silver lining. The best thing about home improvement today, according to the experts at Improvements Catalog, is that it doesn’t have to cost a lot. There are lots of affordable options, such as roll-out cabinet shelves and solar lighting, to help you make the most of what you have. The key is to know your budget, then stick to it.

One great way to save money? Do it yourself! Since much of the cost of home improvement is attributed to labor, you can save considerably by handling the project yourself. Easy fixes include everything from painting and landscaping to changing out a light fixture. You can also create the illusion of more space by using efficient storage organizers.

For many families, the kitchen is the home’s focal point. They gather there for meals, for snacks, or just to convene. As more and more forego fancy restaurant dinners for home-cooked meals, it’s important we create efficient, attractive kitchens—conducive to crafting scrumptious dishes without sacrificing atmosphere. We hope you’ll consider upgrading your appliances (there’s now a slew of energy saving models on the market), or even just changing your lighting, as Designer Jonas Carnemark recommends in our article “Simple Tips for Beautifying your Bathroom & Kitchen”.

Perhaps you’re satisfied with the design of your refuge, but have you considered your cooling, heating and power sources? A central air conditioning system may keep you cool, but an energy-efficient system saves you money, adds value to your home and reduces your carbon footprint. Given the tax breaks available to those investing in eco-friendly renovations, there is truly no better time than now to make a change. See page 6 for more information. Plus check out Improvements Catalog’s great ideas for weatherizing your home indoors and out.

So maybe you can’t take that beach vacation, but you can give your deck a tropical look with new furniture cushions or a garden fountain. Ugly cement patio? Dress it up with an outdoor rug and you’ve got the perfect setting for outdoor entertaining. Improvements Catalog offers an ever changing selection of unique, stylish and affordable solutions like these, from outdoor furniture to indoor décor. Visit them online at www.improvementscatalog.com.

The home is your safe haven; make sure you keep it that way. We hope you’ll take all the necessary precautions to protect your family—from the elements, as well as intruders. On page 11, we discuss home security —from technologically-advanced locks and alarm systems to sensors that alert homeowners to potentially catastrophic environmental conditions.

Whether you’re rebuilding from the ground up or just tweaking a bit, selling down the line or nesting indefinitely—there is no better time than now to improve the style, functionality and efficiency of your home. Our guide to home improvement aims to inspire you to see an ailing economy as an opportunity rather than a hindrance. From a fashion-forward faucet to a stylish shed, there are cost-effective means of making major improvements to your living space, as well as environmentally-friendly investments that can save you money in the long-run. We hope you’ll take advantage of our ideas, and Improvements Catalog’s, too! We urge you to get out there—or rather, stay in! —and improve the ambience, functionality and efficiency of your home.

Whether you’re rebuilding from the ground up or just tweaking…there is no better time than now to improve the style, functionality and efficiency of your home.