F ALL H OME I MPROVEMENT F ALL H OME I MPROVEMENTFALL HOME IMPROVEMENT

by Gale StevesIf you cannot wait any longer to

make some much needed changes in your home, you are not alone.Americans are once again getting ready to begin the home improve-ment process. This pent-up energy often begins in the kitchen, a room

Easy and Economical Solutions for Those Postponed Remodeling Plans

that gets a lot of wear and tear but also seems to go out of fashion more quickly these days.

This time around, you will be more cautious like many consumers are with their choices and costs ...and yet you want to make observ - able changes.

The most obvious change is

installing a new countertop.Remember that countertops rep -resent 30 percent of the color in any kitchen. Create new excitement bysimply replacing your tired,scratched or stained counter sur -face with one made from the latest generation of premium laminate.

The latest additions to the popu - lar Wilsonart(R)HD(R) High Definition(R) design series reflect new interest in natural, classic and tumbled marble, limestone and travertine.

The good news is this fashionable look is available without the high cost of stone or the constant main -tenance those stones require.

These lighter, less patterned lami -nate designs are perfect for today’s hectic lifestyle. In fact, the new cost-efficient countertop can be installed within a few hours and without dis -rupting family life. They also givean existing kitchen the promise of a whole new look that’s universally appealing. That equals a big change for small change.

All of these new designs are avail -able in a new surface effect of a lower matte-gloss sheen that seems almost glazed. The “Glaze” texture is actually a layering of matte fea -tures over a glaze of semi-gloss.This creates a timeworn result that is less reflective and more restrained. It’s a perfect balance for

the sophisticated dramatic mate -rials that are part of today’s kitchen: stainless steel, chrome, copper, and even glass.

Wilsonart patterns benefit from AEON Enhanced Performance technology. AEON brings four times the scuff and scratch-resis -tance of conventional laminate, as

well as five times the wear resis -tance to the surface. Unlike granite,the surfaces of these new laminates are non-porous and never need to be sealed.

Here are some other remodeling ideas that will have high impact without high expense:

• Replace your old refrigerator with an energy-efficient model.Look in the big box stores for floor models or even those with a little dent on the side, which will never be seen.

• Refresh your cabinets with a coat of paint, and change all the cabinet hardware in the process.This makes everything look new.

• Swap out your old ceiling light fixture and install under cabinet lighting as well. A little light can make a dramatic difference.

• Change your sink or sinks.Consider a new Wilsonart (R) HD (R)

sink when adding a laminate coun -tertop. These sinks were designed to be mounted to a laminate surface.

Still puzzled by the process or need more help choosing the right color or pattern for your counter - top? Visit www.WilsonartHD.com for many good answers.

Gale Steves is a frequent con -tributor to home design publica - tions.

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12 Friday, September 9, 2011CITIZEN’S NEWS

F ALL H OME F ALL H OMEFALL HOME I MPROVEMENT I MPROVEMENTIMPROVEMENT

The growing trend of homeowners staying in their existing houses longer due to economic challenges has had a colorful effect on homes. People are taking the opportunity to personalize

their homes more with colorful exte -rior accents and they’re not stopping with just a splash of paint.

According to national color expert Kate Smith, homeowners are taking steps to express their personalities byadding color to everything from their roofs to their entry doors to their win - dow frames.

“Today’s homeowners are looking beyond variations of whites and bei -ges to set off the key accent points of their homes, such as louvers, trim and window frames,” says Smith, presi -dent of Sensational Colors. “With the realization that they’re going to be staying in their current houses longer comes the commitment by people to truly personalize their homes.This has resulted in eye-catching neighbor - hoods.

“As homeowners replace major components of their homes they place greater value on finding products with a long life span, lower maintenance and style. They are seeking out both a noticeable change and an improve-ment from existing products on the home. The ability to add a creative ele -ment, personal touch or signature color tends to ‘bond’ homeowners even more closely with their living spaces.”

According to Smith, one of the hot -

Embracing Coloron Your Home

test trends for exterior enhancementsis to select vinyl windows with exte -rior color frames that complement theoverall look of the home. She cites theDecorum by Simonton product line as

one that offers everything consumersare looking for – color, energy effi -ciency, style and low maintenance.

“With their minds on sustainabilityand their eye on good design, manyhomeowners are investing in color asa way to express themselves and rein -vent their current homes,” says Smith.“Simonton offers exterior windowframe colors of brick red, pine green,bronze, driftwood and chocolate thatperfectly match up with the earthycolors homeowners gravitate to fortheir home exteriors. These same col -ors can be drawn out further on trimelements of the home along withbeing component colors of the roofand entry door.”

Along with offering colorful exte -riors on their replacement windowframe exteriors, Simonton also offersthe same colors on new constructionwindows so homeowners can buildwith color confidence right from the start.

“A window is like a two-sided can -vas,” says Smith. “The colors on theframe exteriors enhance the home’soverall appearance from the street.And then when you get inside andselect stylish woodgrain frame inte -riors and premium hardware finishes,you’re adding beauty to the room set -tings.That’s a ‘win-win’ experience for any homeowner.”

CITIZEN’S NEWSFriday, September 9, 2011 13

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