Contributing Editor Bryan J. Pulte. Interior Investments: How to Display Collectibles.

We spend of good part of our lives collecting – antique china, crystal figurines, sports memorabilia, old pottery, Christmas ornaments – the list is varied and unique to each individuals’ taste.  Sometimes vacations and excursions are primarily focused on adding to our collections.  When we get home and review our collectibles, we think, “Now what am I going to do with this?”.  Read the entire article HERE. Bryan Pule Interiors. 303-399-8866.

Organization Trend – Start the Year with a CLEAN SLATE

It’s January, and if one of your resolutions was to become more organized, you’re not alone. According to the National Association of Professional Organizers (NAPO), the promise to get organized is one of the top five New Year’s resolutions we make, which is why the organization is sponsoring January as national Get Organized Month.

A recent survey conducted by NAPO showed that 65 percent  of people surveyed described their home as at least moderately disorganized, while 71 percent said their quality of life would improve if they were better organized. If you find yourself agreeing with the results of this survey, it’s time to take action and make this the year you finally get organized.  The freshness of an uncluttered, well organized home
can give you the positive energy you need to tackle the other resolutions on your list.

Click here to view the entire article or visit Urban Home Magazine’s website to learn more.

Four Top Efficiency Tips to Celebrate Energy Awareness Month

October is Energy Awareness Month 2010 and a perfect time for Charlotte homeowners to give inefficient windows and doors the cold shoulder.

According to a recent study commissioned by JELD-WEN, a leading manufacturer of windows and doors and a 2010 ENERGY STAR Partner of the Year, nearly 26 percent of homeowners say what they dislike most about their existing windows and doors is that they are drafty and inefficient. As the temperature outside drops, homeowners notice that these inefficiencies quickly turn into rising utility bills.

As much as half of the energy used in a home goes toward heating and cooling, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. To minimize the energy and dollars spent to heat a home this winter, it’s essential that windows and doors are energy efficient.

“Energy efficient windows and doors are crucial to maintaining a home’s comfort during even the coldest months,” says Brian Hedlund, product marketing manager for JELD-WEN. “Homeowners who replace single-pane glass windows with ENERGY STAR qualified products can save hundreds of dollars on energy costs annually, according to ENERGY STAR.”

To maximize a home’s energy efficiency, consider the following tips:

1.    Start at the front
A home’s front door can play a vital role as one of the first lines of defense against the elements. If a door does not close properly or lets in a draft, a homeowner’s utility bills can pay the price. Homeowners should check the weather-stripping and any gaps around the door that can let heat escape. If these features cannot be easily fixed, it may be time to replace the door.

2.    Glass matters
Choosing windows with insulated Low-E glass is an important step in making a room more energy efficient because the special coating helps reflect some of the interior heat back into the home. These double-paned windows also greatly enhance energy efficiency, compared to single-paned windows.

Vinyl windows have become exceedingly popular because of their low maintenance and energy efficient features. For homeowners who prefer wood windows, manufacturers like JELD-WEN have introduced “pocket” replacement windows that come with Low-E glass and are designed for installation into existing window frames, which makes the process simpler, quicker and less damaging to a home’s structure.

3.    Drive home efficiency
The garage is often forgotten when it comes to energy efficiency, but it’s one of the largest entry points of the home. The temperature of a garage greatly affects the overall temperature of the entire home. For energy savings in the garage, find a proper-fitting garage door and make sure that the door leading from the garage to the inside of the home is also energy efficient.

4.    Energy efficiency pays off
Beyond the initial purchase price of a product, consider the long-term value that energy efficient products offer in terms of annual measurable savings. Homeowners who make energy efficient updates to their home, including windows and doors, can qualify for up to $1,500 in federal tax credits if installed by Dec. 31, 2010.

Energy Efficient windows and doors are currently available through The Design Center, a completely new retail concept in the Ballantyne Area outside of Charlotte offering JELD-WEN windows, doors, garage doors as well as professional installation services all in one showroom.  The Design Center is located at 9484 Old Bailes Road, Fort Mill, SC, 29707. The phone number is 800-276-0411. Please visit our website www.jeld-wen.com for further information.

Kitchen Cabinets Spotlight Clean Lines, Creative Storage

Clean lines, creative storage and value are the hottest trends in kitchen cabinets right now. While cabinet exteriors are less ornate than in years passed, interior storage is becoming more sophisticated in order to maximize space and offer greater accessibility.

Green remains a hot trend, as consumers seek options that are both environmentally friendly and formaldehyde-free, while value remains a key concern at all price points.

Below are some of the hottest trends in kitchen cabinets today:

• Design trends continue to favor clean lines and a streamlined, uncluttered appearance, with classic, timeless design the watchword of the day.
• Value remains critically important to consumers, however, that doesn’t necessarily mean inexpensive. Rather, it’s about offering cabinets with features and options that consumers really want and need.
• Consumers are demanding more features at every price point, and new technology is helping to make this a reality.  As a result. semi-custom and even stock cabinetry are offering more options and better storage.
• With oversized trophy kitchens falling out of favor, storage has become more critical than ever, with clever interior storage options that maximize space and accessibility becoming not just desired, but expected.
• The green trend remains strong, and formaldehyde-free wood, CARB-compliant products and Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) materials are some of the more popular green requests.
• When it comes to wood choices, maple and cherry remain hot, while walnut and mahogany offer a more rustic look that ties into the trend toward warmer spaces. Bamboo, although a small niche segment right now, is gaining ground with the ecologically minded.

E3 Cabinets & Design is the premier custom cabinetry manufacturer and design center for all your cabinetry needs in the Charlotte Metro area. We also carry several lines of manufactured cabinetry for all of your kitchen remodels or bathroom remodel. Visit our Design Center located at 130 Southside Drive, or on the web at www.e3cabinets.com.

Feature Home: A Toast to Fall

   

     As fall approaches and the weather starts to cool, it won’t be long before entertaining makes its move indoors. But for one Charlotte family, they cherish the crisp autumn air and hold on to every possible last bit of being outdoors. For them, fall is all about entertaining on a manageable scale with close friends.

    “For me, spring and fall are the best times to entertain in the South,” said Robin Branstrom. “But I’m especially fond of fall entertaining because the weather is so beautiful and it is such a wonderful time to get back together with friends who you have not seen over the summer.”

    And the Branstrom’s know how to throw a party! Robin and her husband, Bill, are part owners of the fabulously successful fine dining group, Harpers Restaurant Group. This includes such dining establishments as Zink, Upstream, Harpers and Mimosa Grill.

    First, a little history about the setting for this wonderful get-together.

    The Normandy Tudor style home was originally built in 1927 and came close to being a local historical landmark. A home that old in one of Charlotte’s original neighborhoods, understandably was in need of some updating.

Click here to view the entire article or visit Urban Home Magazine’s website to learn more.

Annual Home and Garden Tour: Showcase by The Elizabeth Community

The Elizabeth Community in Charlotte, a historic district about one mile from Uptown, will showcase five homes, an artist’s studio, and  several outstanding gardens and landscaped areas, during it’s annual Home Tour in October.

Who: The Elizabeth Community Association

What: Annual Home and Garden Tour

When: Saturday, October 2, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.;

Sunday, October 3, from 1 to 5 p.m.

Where: The historic Elizabeth Community

Tickets: $12.00 in advance at Elizabeth neighborhood businesses;

$15.00 on tour days at the Charlotte Council of Garden Clubs,

1820 East 7th St.

Details: The showcased homes, studio, and landscaped areas are:

-Julie Chavez and Scott Kaysen, East 8th St., home and garden

-Diana and Reid Watson, Kenmore Ave., home and garden

-Heather and Gus Obleada, Clement Ave., home

-Paige McThenia and Jon Adams, East 8th St., home & garden

-Kristan and Ken Magas, East 5th St., home

-Kris and Ric Solow, East 5th St., garden and studio

-Leesa and Jim Clardy, East 5th St., garden

Tammy and Mark Hermann, East 5th St., garden

Elaine and Jerry Tylman, Kenmore Ave., outdoor areas

The Charlotte Council of Garden Clubs, 1820 East 7th St., and Hawthorne Lane United Methodist Church, 501 Hawthorne Lane, will complete the tour offerings. The Council house will be decorated with arrangements crafted from flowers and greenery readily available in Charlotte. Club members will be on site to answer gardening questions.

Maya Packard, tour chairperson, mpackard@carolina.rr.com

Minimalism: A Unique Perspective

Modern bathroom designs involve an elegant simplicity that creates a mood of comfort and ease.  There are five major bath trends today that seem to be dominating the desired design aesthetic:

1. Longer and wider cabinetry-helps to elongate a small bathroom

2. Environmentally conscious products- these may include energy efficient products,etc.

3. Accessibility systems:  organizational systems are vital and allow for efficient storage of items

4. Counter-tops of differing heights:  accommodates people and guests of all heights and sizes

5.  Multiple sinks: allows for multiple people to be in a bathroom area at once, completing different tasks

For more information please visit vithouse.com.

German Engineering in the Modern European Kitchen- Nolte Home Studios

If the recession has taught us anything, it’s that bigger isn’t always better. Even when it comes to our kitchens, we’re downsizing; the National Kitchen and Bath Association’s (NKBA) design trends for 2010 included  concealed kitchens and space efficiency.

In this aspect, Europe is decades ahead of us. The European kitchen is the model of efficiency and beautiful minimalist design. Cooking in Europe is viewed differently than in the US with fresh ingredients and depends less on stored and pre-prepared food. Space is usually at a premium so appliances are smaller and storage is paramount.

Charlotte homeowners are in luck because Nolte Home Studios, maker of Europe’s most innovative kitchen and bedroom designs, has recently opened its first US showroom in Pineville.

Nolte is a German manufacturing company (second largest single label in the world) that has been designing and producing high-quality kitchens for more than 50 years. Their innovative space-saving designs keep everything in your cabinets organized and close-at-hand while using every inch of space available.

But those are the things you don’t see; the exterior of a Nolte kitchen is a work of minimalist art with clean uninterrupted lines and a streamlined elegant look….

Click here to view the entire article or visit Urban Home Magazine’s website to learn more about Nolte Home Studio.

Visit the Nolte Home Studio showroom at 11523 Carolina Place Parkway in Pineville, or call 704-542-4640. Visit them online at www.noltehomestudio-usa.com.

Is There a Murphy Bed in the House?- Closet and Storage Concepts

Murphy beds sure aren’t what they used to be. See for yourself at Closet and Storage Concepts, well – that is if you can find them in their newly styled disguises. Today’s Murphy bed is virtually undetectable in entertainment-center designs surrounded by cabinets often taking up an entire wall.

By definition, a Murphy bed folds or swings into a cabinet or closet for concealment. These days, innovation has almost made you resist hiding them because when the bed is out, it’s a beautiful piece, and folded up, it’s even more striking.

Robert Coover, owner of Closet and Storage Concepts, offers these beds typically used in guest bedrooms for homeowners who are either downsizing or want to utilize the room as a den as well as a guest room by incorporating TVs, desks, and couches. “This makes sense for downtown condos, town homes, retirement communities, and places with restrictive square footage,” Robert says. “They are a lovely, efficient way for single-family homes to double up…”

Click here to view the entire article or visit Urban Home Magazine’s website to learn more about the Closet and Storage Concepts.

For more information on Closet and Storage Concepts, call 704-525-6515 or 1-888-THE-CLOSET (849-2567), or visit them at 635 Pressley Road, Suite H, and www.closetandstorageconcepts.com.

How Does Your Garden Grow?- Garage Tek

This spring and summer, make gardening and yard work a breeze – with GarageTek!

Every gardener knows, you have to have the right equipment and supplies to keep your gardens growing. So, while you’re daydreaming about the colors of your decorative border of annuals this year, you might devote a little time to considering where you keep your shovels and rakes.

GarageTek, the leader in garage organization systems, can design and install an impeccable system to help you make the most of your Green Thumb and your free time, both in and outdoors.

The experience begins with a thorough clean out of your garage, eliminating and donating your unwanted items. Then, the team will take a look at what you keep, how you work in the space and strive to identify your gardening and outdoor needs — outfitting each with selections from their huge catalog of accessories.

First, GarageTek installs a patented, heavy duty TekPanel wall system around the walls of your garage. It’s made of an easy to wipe clean, yet ruggedly strong material that is perfect for the garage. TekPanel is a slatwall system with horizontal grooves used to clip in your accessories. These brilliantly designed additions make getting to the garden easy with grab-and-go functionality. GarageTek has created accessories that comfortably accommodate watering cans, hoses, gardening gloves, even weed eaters and leaf blowers!…

Click here to view the entire article or visit Urban Home Magazine’s website to learn more about GarageTek.

To have GarageTek create your own personalized workspace, call 704-909-6418 or visit www.garagetek.com to schedule your free in-home consultation.