Thoughtful planning will help homeowners get the most from this popular amenity.
Home theaters were all the rage ten years ago. These rooms were designed for passively watching TV and movies, and were acoustically separated from the rest of the house. While some homeowners still want home theaters, most now opt for a media room that doubles as a game room. Getting the most from these spaces requires careful planning.
Life and work styles are evolving. Make sure the home office is up to date.
It’s not news that home offices have become mainstream. According to a recent Forbes study, one in five Americans work from home, and that number continues to rise. Technology has made working from home efficient and convenient. The home office now appears in homes of every type, size, style and price range.
When considering building a new home, the focus typically revolves around floor plan, home energy performance or updated finishes. While these considerations are important, they omit a key element to quality of life: peace and quiet.
This may mean blocking out unwanted environmental noise like traffic or indoor noise pollution like the dishwasher, Monday Night Football or a gathering of neighborhood teens.
It wasn’t that long ago that a window was a window … was a window. Basically, a hole in the wall fitted with a wood-framed pane of glass that allowed a view to the outside and provided a little bit of daylight into a house.
Over the past 25 years, windows have changed dramatically. Not only are they far more energy-efficient than their predecessors,