Three Generations Share a Home

The revival of multi-generation living has been on the rise since 2009 and continues to be a lifestyle trend for 2012.  “What we’re seeing is the demise of the notion of the nuclear family in favor of the extended family,” said John L. Graham, co-author of Together Again: A Creative Guide to Successful Multigenerational Living.

Motivations range from necessity to convenience to culture.  While some situations may be temporary, others aren’t so short-lived.  Many factors influence a family’s decision to live together:

• Aging baby boomers are moving in with children
• Young adults are living with parents for longer lengths of time or are being forced to relocate home due to the stagnant economy
• The expected growth in home ownership among Hispanics and Asians, for whom multi-generational living is more common

With life expectancies increasing, baby boomers retiring, pension funds failing and minority household growth, multi-generational living will likely be a trend that is with us for a while, if not a new way of American life.

Multi-generational living may sound unnerving yet living together can offer many benefits:

• Help with household expenses
• Child care or elder care
• Allow the older generation to remain independent longer, none of them wanting to admit they’ll ever need formal assisted living
• Emotional intimacy that comes with frequent contact among family members and the opportunity to make a strong connection with your grandchildren and pass on your knowledge and experience
• Reconnect with your adult children at a different stage in both your lives
• Luxury to travel with piece of mind that your house and pets are taken care of; perfect for the snowbirds

In order to make this new way of life enjoyable and comfortable some changes will need to be made.  It is essential to map out your ideal space and to run the numbers on re-do versus buying new, Crimson Design and Construction can help you with this.

If you set up the right space living together under one roof won’t break the bank or drive you crazy. Integrating design that encourages social interaction yet also provides privacy away from the communal living space is the most effective strategy.  Separate entrances and kitchens are critical to success.  Members of the household share many activities and frequently eat together, and the grandparents often take an active role in the care of their grandchildren.  But, at the end of the day, each generation bids adieu and retires to separate quarters.

How do you feel about multi-generation living? And do you think it is something that may be in your future?

 

Announcing Our New 2012 Naperville-Area Remodeling Design Guide

We’ve been hard at work this winter creating a design guide specifically for Naperville.

So many times you open a home magazine and see some gorgeous photography but quickly realize that none of it works for your home. We’ve seen this problem as well. So, we set out to create a book of design ideas that specifically pertain to Naperville-area homes.

Naperville is not known for Cape Cod,  Southern Georgian or Southwestern Pueblo style homes. Naperville was created by builders that used a mixture of styles in their homes. You will rarely see this style of design in a magazine.

But what can you do when remodeling your Naperville builder-style home? We have faced this design challenge numerous times so we set out to give you some great ideas in our Free Design Guide.

Click Here to Request Your Free Copy

Kitchen Focused

Even though houses are scaling down, the kitchen has not been spared. Kitchens are more of a focal point in the home than ever, acting as a central area for all social activities. It’s no wonder they continue to grow in size and remain centralized in the home.

As the everyday populous places more importance on socializing and family togetherness, kitchens are being designed to stimulate social interaction. Today’s kitchens incite family togetherness and socializing by offering spaces for not only cooking, but doing homework, working on your computer, watching a movie, or just chatting.

Walls are coming down, islands are expanding, and more seating is added to encourage lingering in the kitchen and increased connection to those in other rooms of the house. These features not only meet the needs for everyday life, but also accommodate entertaining. For example; a large island used for cooking family meals or doing homework can be turned into buffet space for parties.

This open floor plan design also speaks to our multitasking lifestyle. People cooking in the kitchen do not want their backs to the action; they want to see what is happening. With the kitchen in the center of the home, you can create your gourmet meal without missing the winning touchdown of the game in the next room.

Should You Work With A Designer To Get The Best Custom Kitchen Designs?

Many people embarking on a kitchen remodeling project often question their need for someone to help with design.  Professional design has a mystique of elitism and snobbery.  This is often not the case and engaging someone to help with the design process on your kitchen project could be some of the best money you’ve ever spent!

First, let’s consider where design wouldn’t be necessary.  Some homeowners are naturally good with colors, layout and design.  Finding a few pictures in a magazine is all they need to develop a great idea for their new space.  They’re usually quick to make decisions and seldom second guess the choices they have made.  The partners in the process agree on most every aspect of the project, making the decisions easy.  The kitchen is already well organized and doesn’t require any spatial redesign.  This could be because it’s more than large enough or the changes to the space are purely cosmetic.  It may only require some new cabinets, counters, flooring and appliances to bring it up to current standards.  Any one, or more, of these situations may be a sign that having someone design the space is more service than you need.

Then there’s everyone else.  The other side of this is a kitchen or space so far gone that major work is needed or the homeowner feels completely out of their comfort zone.  Many homes built before the 1970’s and even some of those built in the 80’s or 90’s have layouts or features that the builder thought made sense at the time.  One classic example is the cabinets over a peninsula counter.  The builders of the past thought it was a great way to get additional storage space in a kitchen but unfortunately it is the number one reason the kitchen feels isolated or cut off from the rest of the main level.  Another feature was the half wall between the dinette and the family room.  It was seen as a great way to divide the spaces and separate the floor materials.  Unfortunately, that’s exactly what it did while at the same time making the dinette space extremely cramped!  These conditions point to the need for a professional designer or architect in your new kitchen.

Not all of these things are easily addressed and could require some real design experience.  Other homeowners that surely need help are the ones that can’t agree on anything or second guess every decision they make.  There’s concern over making the wrong decision with the paint colors or needing to make the perfect decision.  This can stalemate the process and make it so the project will never get off the ground.  A professional designer/remodeler will also help you with those decisions that are critical to the re-sale of your home down the road.  Those odd layout problems and bad color choices will make the home that much more difficult to sell when the time comes.  Do all the colors go together?  Is the layout efficient, simple and make the kitchen fun to cook in?  Is it so trendy that in 4 years the colors will be too much?  These questions will all be critical to you or potential buyers when the time comes.

The key to your project is creating a kitchen that makes it fun to cook, entertain and live in.  It’s the heart of the home and it needs to be current and well designed – something you can be proud of.

Neil Judges Qualified Remodeler Master Design Awards

Neil recently spent two days in downtown Chicago where he was one of five judges from around the US to judge the 2010 Master Design Awards from Qualified Remodeler magazine. While helicopters and movie cameras whirled outside the hotel filming the new Transformers 3 movie the panel slaved over 300+ entries in 22 categories.

It is quite an honor to be selected as a judge for this competition.  Neil took the job very seriously and did his best to give each entry the respect it deserved.  Projects entered in the competition ranged from construction details such as a floating stairway to a $28 million whole house renovation of a 40,000 square foot home!  Some of the highlights included a 75 foot curved pergola to a complete restoration of a Greene and Greene home in California.

It wasn’t easy, but in the end they had to pick one project as best in show.  The results will be revealed in the October issue of Qualified Remodeler.

Joel Is Mentioned In A Daily Herald Article

Joel got a nice mention in a recent article from the Daily Herald.  The story chronicles a charity project that the Chicago chapter of the National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI) took on earlier this year for a family in Elk Grove Village.  Find the complete article here.  Thanks to all of those at NARI that allowed us to be a part of this important project.

What’s So Hard About Picking A Brick?

I recently had a conversation with someone that was getting ready to remodel their home.  They knew exactly what they wanted to do but at the same time, they didn’t.  They knew the general concept of what they wanted to accomplish – remove the Dryvit stucco from the exterior of their house and replace it with brick.  What they lacked were specific details of what that would look like.  That’s why they called on us.

There is an almost infinite supply of exterior stone and brick to use on a house.  There are also a multitude of siding materials to choose from.  Now put all those combinations together and you have some serious information overload!

You can see how a project as simple as replacing your stucco with stone can quickly become complicated.  That’s when the services of an architect/designer are valuable.  We have been busy gathering feedback and information from the client to help select materials that fit their needs/lifestyle.  We are considering colors, value, sustainability, maintenance, style of the home, neighborhood style, size, and pattern.  All of these decisions will affect the finished look and life of the home.  I am amazed that often times these decisions are made with the brick mason or salesman.  So many pieces of the puzzle are never even considered!

But even more important, might be the need to visualize these changes.  Seeing the samples is one thing, but seeing it on your house is something different.  Using software that will allow you to see your house in three dimensions with different materials and colors is a great way to see your completed project before you commit to any particular selection.  Below are some photos of an existing house and a computer-generated design that will allow the client to envision the finished product in the early stages.

What a great way to make decisions for your project!  Don’t make a purchase this large without seeing what you are buying.  If you want to ‘see’ your project before you start – please give us a call.

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Landscaping Increases Curb Appeal and Value

Is your home’s curb-appeal starting to look a bit drab or dated? The first impression of your home is a critical component to its appeal and value. When considering a landscape project, improving the front yard has the biggest impact in the perception of a home.

In any economy, but especially in the current economy, landscape improvements have a big impact on a home’s value. A study done by theUniversity of Clemson and theUniversity of Michigan found that consumers value a nicely landscaped home up to 11.3 percent higher than a home with basic landscaping.

When creating a new look for a home it is important to consider removing overgrown plantings, adding new plantings, reworking walkways, and adding lighting. All elements have a great impact individually. Together they completely transform the look and character of a home.

Plantings provide scale to the front of a home. Plantings also are important for vertical elements to frame views to a home or providing screening. Front plantings used in larger masses create more impact from a distance. Usually people view a front landscape from the street, or along the public walkway, so having fewer varieties and larger groupings looks much nicer. Seasonal interest is another important element in the front yard. A balance of plantings with interest in all seasons will make the front of the home much more appealing.

It is also important to think about what the front landscape will look like from inside the home.

Often the landscape is pressed up against the foundation of the home and doesn’t take advantage of views from front rooms looking out into the front landscape. Capitalizing on such opportunities can make the front yard equally enjoyable from inside the home.

A new walkway can dramatically improve the appearance of any home.Extending the walkway out into the yard away from the home can make for a nice design element and create a more interesting entry.New paver and stone materials used in walkways or even driveways add a lot of interest to a home and can compliment the architecture.

Along with new plantings and stone work, landscape lighting is another element to consider adding to your landscape. The finishing touch of lighting makes a dramatic difference in the curb appeal of a home and extends the interest of the landscape into the evening.

According to The Wall Street Journal’s Smart Money Magazine a well designed, installed, and maintained landscape can add up to 15% to your home’s value. Feel free to contact Western DuPage Landscaping, Inc at 630-416-0072 for a free consultation to see how they can increase the value of your home by improving your landscape. In the meanwhile you can view photos of their projects at www.westerndupagelandscaping.com. Crimson and WDL can also work together on any remodeling/landscape project to make your life easier.

Enjoy,

Matt Haber, Western DuPage Landscaping

Don’t Forget Window Treatments When Planning Your Project

Often times window treatments are overlooked, yet updating your window treatments will protect your remodeling investment. They will both complete and enhance your room by adding the perfect finishing touch. You can add softness to a room with fabric window treatments or add a warm ambiance with wood blinds or shutters.

Window treatments add beauty, decoration and mood to a room, but they are also practical and eco-friendly as well. Window treatments provide privacy and protect your interior finishes by blocking damaging UV rays that will cause fading and deterioration. Conserving energy is another great benefit to window treatments. For instance, you might want to block the sun out of the bedroom, while taking advantage of the sunlight in the family room. Also, there are thermal insulating treatments available that allow your home to increase energy efficiency according to the outside temperature.

One of today’s hottest trends in window fashions is vertical panels (pictured). The vertical panels offer clean lines and a sleek contemporary look. This new product offers the perfect solution to dress your floor-to-ceiling windows, and can also be used as a stylish room divider system. There are also several cordless options that are stylish and safe for a child-friendly home.

Crimson Design & Construction is happy to announce that we now offer window treatments as part of our service. In keeping with Crimson’s business model, our window treatments are 100% custom made to suit your needs, style and personality. Our in-house designers will work with you to select the perfect style and colors to fit your new space. We stand behind our products and offer a complete warranty.

Naperville Basement Finish With A New Twist

We just finished a basement in Naperville where we did something new for us. We left the ceiling alone and painted it flat black. All the joists, ductwork, and pipes are still visible but the flat black paint makes it all disappear. It really is quite amazing!

By leaving the ceiling exposed the client gained valuable ceiling height in a house built before a 9′ basement was more common. Not only did they get an extra 4″ of ceiling height but it feels like even more because you can see up into the spaces between the joists.

The painted ceiling costs less than a traditional drop ceiling and quite a bit less than a drywall ceiling. On the other side, you have to be comfortable with the urban/industrial look of the black. No other color would work as well. The flat black hides all the pipework exceptionally well.

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