Every year, the winter holidays bring with them thoughts of comfort, friends and family. It’s so important to create a cozy atmosphere and gathering place in your home when “the weather outside is frightful.” Let’s look at some of the ways you can add an extra touch of old-fashioned warmth to your home ─ with a dash of 21st century style and technology.
A Cozy Fireplace
Family room addition by Metro Building & Remodeling
Just thinking about relaxing in front of a fireplace makes you feel warmer. Maybe that’s why we love them so much when the weather is cold and snowy or rainy and raw. A fireplace is a sought-after feature that adds to a home’s value, and it’s never been easier ─ or more energy-efficient ─ to have one.
Older fireplaces burn inefficiently, compromise your indoor air quality and create dust. They actually suck the warm air out and send it up the chimney. Today’s gas fireplace inserts are a smarter choice. They warm the room and burn very cleanly, can be turned on or off instantly and produce natural-color flames for the perfect ambiance. Think outside the box when considering where to put a gas fireplace. For example, a double-sided fireplace can be a room divider, warming both the family room and the dining room.
Warmth Right When You Need It
Photo courtesy Moen
Adding warmth to the master bath or guest bathroom will increase the pampering you or your guests will appreciate. Radiant floors and heated towel bars are luxurious touches that eliminate the cold shock of stepping from a relaxing bath or shower. A ventless electric fireplace with a remote control can be installed in any room of your home, so why not one in the bath? Add a toilet with a heated seat and a shower system with voice-activated tech that can turn on the water to your preferred temperature.
Warmer and Brighter
Energy-efficient windows make it possible to bring in more light by swapping out small windows for larger areas of glass, but still keep your home comfortable and save money on energy costs. High-performance windows provide warmer interior surfaces during the winter (and cooler interior surfaces during the summer), so your home always feels just right.
Dining room addition by Metro Building & Remodeling
If you’re replacing windows and doing other exterior updates, you also have the opportunity to replace doors and choose the latest energy-saving products for both. Today’s exterior doors and frames look better, fit better and are better insulated, compared to older conventional doors.
Amazing Smart Devices
Lots of people use Amazon’s Alexa to play music or get the latest weather. But did you know that many appliance manufacturers have added Alexa connectivity to a broad range of products, including refrigerators, dishwashers, wall ovens, ranges, and more? With voice-activated controls, you can preheat the oven or check on the internal temperature of a roast while it’s cooking.
Photo courtesy Jenn-Air
A smart thermostat that automatically adjusts the temperature setting at certain times of the day is great for comfort and energy efficiency. It can even learn your preferences and your schedule every time you adjust the temperature. Before you know it, it’s programmed itself to maintain your comfort or change the temperature when it detects no one is home.
What’s Better Than One-Stop Shopping?
If you think 2020 might be the year to remodel, don’t wait to get started on your home’s remodeling wish list. Come January, we can talk about specific things you want to change as well as a big-picture vision of how you’d like your remodeled home to look and feel. And with the holidays over, you’ll really appreciate the design/build remodeling process we use at Metro to make those holiday wishes come true with a stress-free “one-stop shopping” remodeling experience that our clients know we can provide.
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