making home inspirations achievable
While some might not find the dreamy aesthetics of this project coming from the heart, the owners of this home certainly find it in their wallets and in their monthly energy bills. With energy costs on a seemly upward climb, it’s alternative energy projects like these that are gaining added attention and interest.
Home Professional:
Renu Building & Energy Solutions
Orefield, PA
610.391.0100
With energy costs and efficiency a top-of-mind priority on many peoples minds, one avenue of consideration is zone heating. While typically this involves electronic control of thermostats and dampers, there are creative alternatives.
Here, a stone fireplace with gas insert provides not only direct heat to the most active space in a home [the kitchen], but also adds a visually distinctive interior design element. Other decorative heating options include utilizing free standing fireplaces and stoves, placed strategically within a home to maximize efficiency. This route also offers options on fuel choices and refueling requirements.
Serving both function and form, decorative zone heating can be your answer to both efficiency and beauty. Talk with your building or fireplace professional to learn more.
Home Professional:
Curtis E. Schneck, Inc.
Schnecksville, PA
610.767.5018
No matter what the season, a sunroom allows you to bring in the feeling of the outdoors from the comfort of your favorite chair. Whether as an addition, renovation of existing space, or as part of a new construction floor plan, the openness, brilliance, and stress free nature of a year-round sunroom offers an exceptional space for quality living.
Home Professional:
Blair Custom Homes, Inc.
Route 378
Bethlehem, PA
610.865.4200
www.BlairCustomHomesInc.com
Aiming for a fresh and distinctive look to your kitchen makeover? Then consider alternative options and materials, like this white cabinetry. Today, there are countless choices to traditional wood stained cabinetry, giving you colors and finishes that can match or compliment other colors and materials.
And don’t stop with the cabinets. Alternative flooring materials such as Bamboo, as well as nonstandard countertop and faucet choices can help you define and shape your personal style.
Home Professional:
Brader’s Woodcraft, Inc.
5440 Route 145
Laurys Station, PA
610.262.3452
With record levels of rain in the past few months, dry basements are the thing to have. What looks like an unsalvageable mess is really an everyday fix for basement waterproofing professionals. And once it’s done, it will be one of your best home improvement investments.
Next, the basement home theater!
Home Professional:
V. L. Calantoni Construction, Inc.
dba Lehigh Valley Waterproofing
1941 Mary Street
Bethlehem, PA
610.691.3378
Sometimes you just need to consider alternative options to turn a home detail, improvement, or repair into an eye catching enhancement. Often the best and most pleasing discoveries are found in the smallest of ideas. Here, what could of easily been an everyday, traditional wooden stairway, really shines and looks up-to-date with the installation of metal balusters.
So when your home calls, or begs for attention, take a mental walk down your alternative options aisle. You may end up wondering why you did not think of it sooner.
Home Professional:
Ruhmel Contracting, Inc.
9905 Old Route 22
Breinigsville, PA
610.366.0910
Making it personal not only applies to the specific ideas and needs you have for your basement or home spaces, but also to how you choose a contractor for doing the work. Make your hiring decision a personal one by considering all the qualities the company or contractor should have before they start work on your home.
For decision ease and convenience, Lehigh Valley Builders Association members bring you three qualities that others may not offer or have:
For for further convenience, their Remodelers Council consists of members perfect for basement and home remodeling. Start your remodeler search here.
Home Professionals:
Lehigh Valley Builders Association
1504 Linden Street Allentown, PA
www.LVBA.org
[finished basement photograph: W.J. Posavek & Son | Bethlehem, PA]
Most of us realize that the Lehigh Valley is a nice mid-point between New York and Philadelphia. This goes for not only in distance and travel time, but in home styles and design as well. For us this means that there is a great mix of professionals who can not only excel in the style and design of a traditional Pennsylvania home, but can equally rise to the needs of urbanites who have more metro tastes and lifestyles.
Whether your interests are in new construction, an update, or an addition to adsorb your lifestyle demands, look for professionals in the Lehigh Valley to fulfill your home dreams. This professional and the Lehigh Valley Builders Association are great places to start.
Home Professional:
S&D Renovations, Inc.
Breiningsville, PA
610.366.8828
[photography: Chuck Hamilton]
For those of you seeking a formulated base for energy efficient building and remodeling, there is a demonstration home that will give you direction to what you were look for, and a whole lot more. Encompassing innovative building, energy, and design technologies throughout the entire space, you can see, touch, and experience building science in what it offers for responsive home living now and into the future.
HoudenHall | Pennsylvania’s first experiential home center
Home Professional:
Ruhmel Contracting
9905 Old 22
Breinigsville PA 18031
610.366.0910
Basements are exceptional areas for adding living space. They are often open, can be designed to handle a variety of interests, and don’t have the expense of an extended foundation or utilities that an addition would require. Whether you’re thinking family space, entertainment zone, or after work escape, basements, when planned right, can provide a whole new floor of home living.
Home Professional:
Clean Cut Construction, Inc.
Coopersburg, PA
610.282.4331
So you’ve always wanted a fireplace for added warmth and ambiance, but struggled with where it would fit within your home. Here’s an option that is sure to give you reason to reconsider once ignored spaces.
Today’s fireplaces come in such a wide range of styles, sizes, and designs, that fitting one where you’d like is almost always possible.
Now where did you leave that tape measure?
Home Professional:
Sorensen Construction
New Tripoli, PA
610.298.8098
Making beautiful use of existing home spaces not only takes a great design eye, but also the craftsmanship skills to pull it off. Here a wine storage area was designed to fit under the stairs of a basement renovation. Notice the rich woodwork and the unique storage arrangement.
Does wine taste better coming out of a display rack like this? We think so.
Home Professional:
Stofanak Custom Cabinetry
176 Nazareth Pike
Bethlehem, PA
610.759.9311
