Waukesha County Home

FEBRUARY 2013 HOMES PLUS Simple ways to save energy ■ Stop using the dishwasher to dry the dishes.A dishwasher is a modern convenience few people feel they can live without.While you don't need to give up the dishwasher entirely to save money, it's important to note that many dishwashers use more energy to dry the dishes than to wash them. If your dishwasher does not automatically dry the dishes, turn the knob to the off position once the dishes have been cleaned and open the door to allow the dishes to air dry. ■ Go with a more traditional refrigeratorfreezer combination. Side-by-side refrigerator and freezer combinations may be more fashionable, but such units can use as much as 20 percent more energy than their traditional counterparts. If you must purchase a side-by-side unit, be sure to buy only those with an Energy Star label. ■ Do laundry less frequently.Whether you live in an apartment or a home, having an inunit washer and dryer is a great convenience. But frequently doing small loads can be wasteful, as it takes roughly the same amount of energy to clean a small load of laundry as it does a full load. Limit yourself to only full loads of laundry as much as possible. ■ Do your drying all at once.When using the dryer, try to dry one batch of clothes right after another. Many dryers require a significant amount of energy to heat up, but drying consecutive loads won't require as much energy to get the dryer up to operating temperature as the dryer will need if you allow a significant amount of time to pass between loads. ■ Don't go to extreme temperatures.Arriving home to a house that's especially cold or warm inspires many people to turn their thermostats way up or down in an effort to heat or a cool the home more quickly.This forces the unit to work harder and use more energy. Instead of taking such an extreme approach, invest in a heating or cooling system that allows you to set the temperature in advance so the temperature inside your home is pleasant when you walk through the door. Source: Creators.com Cabinets continued from Page 1 to three hours of service with every kitchen remodeling," Rimer said. "It's a tremendous asset to us and we get a lot of referrals, people are so happy with the outcome." Cabinet manufacturers have made it easier to hide dishwashers, trash compactors and icemakers behind panels that match the cabinets. Rimer said 20 percent of Mukwonago's business includes refacing of cabinetry . Rimer has his own shop where he makes custom cabinets, but said he was one of the pioneers of refacing in Wisconsin. "It's great for families on a tighter budg- 3 New front door can ease doubts WAUKESHA – Warm invitations don't arrive exclusively from the host of a party, they also come from the message sent by the front door of your home. A homeowner can create a welcoming feel by installing a new exterior door, which may also add to security. The front door is often the attention-getting feature on the home's exterior, whether you're stamping the world with your personality or beckoning potential buyers. Abby Binder is the owner of Abby Windows and said people may not appreciate the power of a door. "When a family has hired a firm to build their home, contractors may not give them a great deal of information about the importance of a front door," Binder said. A poorly chosen door can work against you, she added. When considering the purchase of established homes, consumers are looking for something with curb appeal. "It gives the place a 'wow' appeal," Binder said. Despite how small a door is in respect to the size of the rest of the house, the effect it has is "amazing." "I'll evaluate what people are looking for," Binder said. "If they're looking for more security, we'll recommend a steel strike plate and that makes it harder for people to kick in the door." In Binder's opinion, selection of the glass can be the hardest decision. She said people are trending toward the mission style, Frank Lloyd Wright designs. "It's simple and has a nice look," Binder said. "People are looking for modern and clean looks." In her opinion, less is more. "You don't want to overdo it. People are getting away from the big designs on the glass, the tulips and flowers," she said. Binder talks about colors with her clients, something she said is critical. "I try to get them to take a risk, not necessarily blend in with the rest of the house." Color experts say the front door is like a necktie, the focal point of an outfit. Research says the color red conveys passion or excitement, whereas brown shows warmth and green projects health. Strength is a component you must take into account for both security and effi- ciency purposes. A new exterior door can be costly and Binder said some are as much as $10,000. "You get what you pay for," Binder said. "If you buy a door from one of the big retailers, you may have to repaint after a year. Fiberglass starts to flake then you have to entirely sand it down." When you decide to sell your home the front door will play a role, according to Realtor magazine. Neglected repairs such as a broken doorbell or peeling paint on your door may cause potential buyers to pause and wonder what else needs repair. "It makes sense to put in a front door that's as good as your refrigerator door," said Phil Callen, who owns Callen Construction along with his brother Tom. "It's the most important door in your house so it makes sense to choose wisely." Callen said it's a comprehensive job to recreate the look of a house. One reason people switch their doors, Callen said, is homeowners are looking to get rid of their old wood doors; they may have cracked panels and are allowing air to come inside. "Most homeowners are replacing with steel doors. It's all about curb appeal. It can give the house an appeal that's inviting, keeps the house fresh," he said. Door companies will tout the money you will save with a new door. "When people start to make claims about saving energy they can get into trouble," Callen said. "A lot of the people have an idea in mind of what they want. We try to listen as to why they want to get rid of the existing door." When the economy is doing well, consumers are less hesitant to take steps to improve the functionality and look of their house. "We've seen the growth times and business has been a little softer," Callen said, "but it all evens out. I think it's loosening a bit." et," Rimer said. The refacing utilizes the same construction boxes you already have. "We replace the doors, but we give the boxes a makeover, a veneer with a real wood look. You'll save 30 to 50 percent than if you went with entirely new cabinets." S&K Remodeling has been around for more than 40 years. Janet Callahan is the remodeling division manager and showroom manager and said cabinets are the bases of the kitchen. "They are one of the key components," Callahan said. "You start with a good design and cabinets are the next most important thing. Your workspace is designed around and underneath. It influences where you put your refrigerator, your range." Like Rimer, Callahan said you coordinate your cabinets with the flooring and countertops. "We usually go out to the home, measure up and find out what the customer wants. "We will go back to the shop and design it out based on what the customer wanted." Callahan said she'll offer her suggestions and sometimes they will listen, other times they will stick to their own ideas. "We give them a three-dimensional vision of their kitchen. Some people aren't good at visualizing and this will give them a strong idea of what it will look like." Every person has a distinct personality, which will influence design decisions. "People want their pots hidden and we've gotten away from the open cabinetry," Callahan said. "I have a few glass door cabinets in my home; helps keeps the dust and dirt out." Safety for kids is also a concern with cabinets. Callahan said parents might want their microwave higher so the kids can't use it; some may want it lower so they can. "Drawers and doors are preferable for some parents allowing the kids to reach their own cereal and mom doesn't have to do everything," she said. Callahan said Wisconsin has always preferred oak to any other wood. However, "in the last 10 years, we've seen more maple and cherry," she said. Homeowners are staying in their house longer because of the economy, Callahan said. "Instead of buying a house for $200,000 more than the house they already own, they are putting $50,000 in their current home," she said. "Your kitchen is not a place to skimp." Instantly improves home's appearance By Jim Cryns SPECIAL TO HOMES PLUS Photo courtesy of Tim O'Brien Homes

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