MarvinWindows's blog
Universal design for kitchens and bathrooms
By MarvinWindows
We'll all get older, and along the way there may be some setbacks. With most people wishing to remain in their home as they age, or in case of a sudden disability, universal design is an important consideration when building, buying, selling or remodeling.
We've talked about it before, but let's go into some tips on two of the most important and most-used rooms in the house: the kitchen and bathroom. Both are used regularly for basic activities » READ MORE
What goes into a good kitchen makeover?
By MarvinWindows
With a faltering economy and a slow-recovering housing market, more and more homeowners are choosing to upgrade their existing homes rather than make a move to larger or newer home. Whether they’re trying to increase the value or make the home more livable, one sure fix for a homeowner is a new or renovated kitchen.
Your kitchen is the centerpiece of your home. It’s the room that sees the most traffic and, more often than not, becomes the gathe » READ MORE
Greening the Kitchen
By MarvinWindowsAs the heart of the home, the kitchen is arguably the most-loved and used room in the house. When it looks outdated or the traffic flow becomes inefficient, most homeowners choose to remodel. Traditionally, the process includes pricing cabinetry, choosing the flooring and picking out the perfect appliances.
Here's how it looked before and after: 
Beautiful! One of the best parts is that Cathy chose to support local business. Her tile is from P » READ MORE
Designing with Color
By MarvinWindows
Every time I come to a garden center or nursery in the spring, I'm always dazzled by all those beautiful flowers and varied colors. I find myself wanting to take them all home, but that's really not the best approach for the well-designed garden.
To help me focus, I let color be my guide. A simple rule of thumb I follow is to choose plants that either have blooms or foliage in the same color family. The good news is that there are lots of dif » READ MORE
Style, function and efficiency are hot topics in new home products
By MarvinWindows
Last month, thousands of home builders, remodelers and architects converged in Las Vegas for the 2010 International Builders Show. The show floor was packed with manufacturers and service providers eagerly showing off their wares, and Marvin sent home improvement pro and Today Show contributor Lou Manfredini around to find some of the best.
In this video report, Lou introduces us to a few innovative and interesting products for the home, inclu » READ MORE
Bamboozled: Putting bamboo to use around the house
By MarvinWindows
What can bamboo do for you?
With the growing interest in green living, bamboo often is mentioned. What's it all about?
Let's start off with what bamboo is. Contrary to popular belief, it's not a tree. According to Wikipedia, bamboo is a woody perennial evergreen plant from the true grass family Poaceae. It grows natively almost everywhere except Europe and Antarctica.
How can you use this amazing grass? To start off with, you can eat it! Certain » READ MORE
VIDEO: Lou Manfredini discovers innovative products at Int'l Builders Show
By MarvinWindowsContinuing his reporting from the International Builders Show, Lou Manfredini uncovers some of the more innovative products on the show floor.
He meets with a representative from Bosch Appliances to learn about their new dishwasher, which operates with a focus on efficient use of energy and water. Lou also gets an introduction to a home automation system by Leviton.
Kevin Morrow, senior program manager for NAHB, talks with Lou about the National Gr » READ MORE
VIDEO: Green Day at IBS focuses on sustainability and efficiency
By MarvinWindowsLou Manfredini reports from the show floor at IBS on Wednesday, "Green Day." Sponsored by Marvin Windows, the day is focused on a number of sustainability and efficiency-related topics.
Lou shows us a residential wind turbine from Windtronics as well as GAF's reflective shingles and ventilation systems for cooling your roof -- thereby reducing cooling costs and energy use on warm days.
Lou spoke with Kevin Morrow, senior program manager for NAH » READ MORE
VIDEO: Style, function and efficiency in new products at IBS
By MarvinWindows
Marvin Windows and Doors brought home improvement expert and Today Show contributor Lou Manfredini to the International Builders Show in Las Vegas this week to roam the show floor and find the most interesting and most innovative new products on display. In today's first video report, Lou shows us:
- DuPont's new roof liner, a replacement for tar paper
- Corian countertops, available in several new styles
- Leviton's new dimmer that actually wo » READ MORE
A House Divided? Advice for Conquering Renovation Struggles
By MarvinWindowsMajor renovations can strain domestic relations; here are four steps to keep the union happy
My friends Mike and Judy are, to me, the ideal couple for tackling home renovation. They're ambitious, able to focus on the goal rather than griping about the gathering heap of rubble around them, and eager to pitch in together to do some of the work themselves. As a result, their house looks great, but what is most remarkable is that they actually see » READ MORE
MarvinWindows
From: Minneapolis / St. Paul
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