Go green this holiday season.

It’s hard to believe, but according to Robert Lilienfeld, co-author of the book, “Use Less Stuff: Environmental Solutions for Who We Really Are,” between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day, Americans throw away a million extra tons of garbage each week. During the season of giving, it sure seems like we’re taking a lot from Mother Nature. Here are some suggestions of ways to go green this holiday season, and you just might save some green in the meantime.

Start with your gift giving. You may not have ever thought about it before, but some gifts are certainly more eco-friendly than others. Giving an experience, like tickets to a ballgame or an art exhibit, create much less waste than complicated toys and gadgets. And some of the best gifts can be homemade like cookies and cakes, or having guests over for a full home-cooked meal.

As you do begin wrapping up those presents for family and friends, consider recycling gift wrap. You can easily reuse gift bags, tissue paper, bows and even wrapping paper. For gift wrapping alternatives, think about using reusable items like scarves, handkerchiefs or bandannas. And if you just look around the house you’ll probably find old posters, maps, sheet music, wallpaper scraps, magazine and newspaper cutouts, and comic pages which all work very well as wrapping paper.

If you need to ship your presents this year, avoid Styrofoam packing peanuts and try the biodegradable kind instead. You can also use crumpled up newspaper, or even dry, popped popcorn (insert a note inside the box letting the receiver know that they can later treat birds to it).

For many folks, the holidays just wouldn’t be the same without a live, fragrant Christmas tree. As you search for that perfect tree, keep in mind that if you purchase a tree from a tree farm you’re not damaging forests. Another option is purchasing a potted plant that can be enjoyed year round such as a Norfolk pine, fig or fichus. Artificial trees are also a good choice since they are reused every year and that saves on the gas you would spend driving to the tree farms.

To ignite your family with holiday cheer, be sure to purchase Christmas lights made with light-emitting diodes, or LEDs. These lights have been around since 2001 and are ninety percent more efficient than traditional Christmas lights. They also release little heat and last about 200,000 hours. According to one U.S. Department of Energy study, if all families replaced their conventional holiday light strings with LEDs, at least two billion kilowatt-hours of electricity could be saved in a month. The savings alone would be enough to power 200,000 homes for a year.

Once you’ve chosen your tree, get creative with the decorations. Give it your family’s personal touch by decorating it with memorabilia such as a child’s first shoe or grandma’s hankie scented with perfume. There’s no need to go out and purchase pricey ornaments when cookie cutters, pinecones, stuffed animals and toys, and miniature toy cars work just as well.

And to start the New Year off on the right foot try treecycling. By recycling your fresh tree you can make a huge difference in reducing holiday waste. Instead of ending up in a landfill, Christmas trees can be ground into wood chips and be reused as mulch gardens, or to prevent erosion. If you visit Earth911.com, you can search your zip code to find the nearest Christmas tree recycling center near you.

Written by Tara Darby as found in Craig Lilly’s Newsletter.

Home inspections made easy.

What does your home inspection cover? And who is liable if a problem develops down the road? We’ll answer these questions in today’s column.

You need an inspection on any property you are buying, regardless if it’s old or new construction. An inspection is like a check-up for your house. What repairs will need to be addressed now and what might need to be addressed later down the road? This is what you have answered during an inspection. Having an inspection done prior to signing a contract allows you to negotiate your findings into the deal. Does the roof need replaced? The seller may give an allowance to pay for the repairs. If you don’t ask, you’ll never know!

Perhaps you’ve fallen in love with a fixer-upper and are dreaming of doing the repairs yourself. If the inspection discovers hidden damage and costs, you’ll be given the option to keep looking for a more suitable house. Keep in mind, however, that simply because a house needs repairs doesn’t mean you shouldn’t purchase it. Nearly every house will have a list of repairs that need to be done to get it “shipshape.” It is your decision to choose how much you are willing to spend and how much work you are willing to do.

A home inspection varies depending on what type of property you are interested in.

According to the American Society of Home Inspectors (ASHI), “The standard home inspector’s report will cover the condition of the home’s heating system; central air conditioning system (temperature permitting); interior plumbing and electrical systems; the roof, attic and visible insulation; walls, ceilings, floors, windows and doors; the foundation, basement and structural components.”

There are limits, however, to what a home inspection will cover. They aren’t required to identify conditions that are concealed or are considered latent defects. That means if personal property, plants, snow, or debris are covering an issue, the home inspector isn’t require to move those items to inspect and isn’t liable if he misses something. They aren’t require to make determinations on systems that aren’t readily accessible.

They also aren’t required to note the presence of potentially hazardous plants and animals. That includes “wood destroying organisms” or even molds.

This means you should find a home inspector that you trust. The ASHI recommends you choose from their list of licensed professionals. “ASHI members know houses, ensuring that you can find a home inspector. They are trained to objectively communicate to you, the home inspection buyer, what the house has to say. ASHI members have demonstrated technical proficiency and report-writing skills, and they have committed to continuing education in order to achieve and maintain their member status.”

Having a trusted inspector means that most every problem that can be identified will be. An inspection is about peace of mind, and a good inspector gives you that.

Written by Carla Hill as found in Craig Lilly’s Newsletter.

Redesign that old and drab to new and fab.

Every homeowner eventually wants to make a change, but if you’re like many people you haven’t a clue where to begin. Just like fashion styles, interior designs change with the times as well. So, if you’ve been in your home for a long time and are ready to sell or are just ready for a makeover, read on to see if the hottest trends are suitable for your home.

Go ahead and slap a fresh coat of paint on the walls. But don’t make it sterile white or boring beige. At the very least use these colors along with some vibrant accent colors on a single wall or two.

“We’ve gone through an era of everything being very muted and quiet and what we see with the younger generation coming up is that we’re really going to use lots of colors. Colors on the walls, color on the furniture such as lime greens, browns, oranges and bright reds,” says Dixie Lovejoy, owner of Arizona-based Apple Interior Systems, Inc.

A little paint can make a major change to a home. It’s always a good idea to put on a fresh coat or at least touch up the paint before you place your home on the market. It gives a buyer a feeling of cleanliness and that the home has been well cared for over the years.

“Paint is a very inexpensive way to do something new and not have your house seem dated as time goes on,” adds Lovejoy.

Think big, but buy less. “People used to buy accessories on a very small scale. In our office, one of our slogans is: bigger is better,” says Lovejoy.

She says that means things like pots, statues, fountains, and flower arrangements should all be bigger. So instead of having a lot of knickknack items, you buy less but when you do, you buy big. The idea is to make a statement with your decorating rather than make your home look cluttered.

Accent pillows are a must! The key home décor ingredient that no home should be without gives new meaning to pillow talk. Lovejoy says accent pillows will get your houseguest chatting about your harmonizing décor. “Accent pillows are kind of a key to all design that ties everything together,” she says.

Bye-bye sliders. In my opinion, sliding glass doors have always been a bit of an eyesore, but so many tract homes have them. Now, Lovejoy says, sliding glass and even French doors are losing ground. The new alternative creates wide open space even in a residential tract home. Instead, doors that virtually vanish or disappear are appearing in more homes and allowing better access to the great outdoors.

“They actually can slide all the way into a pocket that’s built into a wall or stack on top of each other so it becomes one small window on the left or right side but the rest of your house is all open. There are also folding doors that do that,” says Lovejoy.

She says the typical narrow three-foot opening on sliding or French doors just isn’t suitable for what homeowners want today. “The newest trend is opening up a 12 to 22 or 30 feet of glass. It gives you almost the lanai effect like you have in Hawaii where the inside and the outside all become one,” explains Lovejoy.

Of course, this is ideal for homeowners who have big parties or events at their home. “You can just open up your house and the traffic flows inside to outside,” says Lovejoy.

Then the outside is decorated much like the inside with fireplaces, couches, chairs, coffee tables, and Lovejoy says even drapes and pictures hanging on the walls on the outside of the house. All of this makes the determining line between the outside and inside of your house disappear.

Furnish your outdoors like your indoors.

“We traditionally don’t even use regular patio furniture. We upholster couches and chairs and everything in outside fabric because it’s gotten so incredibly intricate. It’s not the old red, white, and blue fabric that we used to think of for outdoor furniture,” says Lovejoy.

Today, designers are using big patterns made from velvets and even sheer materials on outside furniture which begs the question, “how does this fabric hold up on a couch or chair?”

“We’re the toughest market there is with the weather and everything else … and we’re the dustbowl of the world out here but even the moisture that you have in the costal cities wouldn’t affect it,” says Lovejoy. Need to clean your furniture? Don’t hire a professional. Lovejoy says, “You can take a hose to it and wash off the couch or chairs or you can vacuum them just like you do inside so there’s really no difference.”

When it comes to flooring, soft is out and hard is in. “I think that we’re going away from soft surfaces on the flooring,” says Lovejoy.

Traditionally, homes have always had carpeting in the bedroom areas and maybe tile or hardwood flooring in other parts of the house. That’s changing to create a better flow between the indoor and outdoor living areas. “That way when you open up your house for entertaining, the patio or the lanai on the outside, or your sunroom, has the same surface as the house so you get that huge expanded feeling,” says Lovejoy.

Of course, area rugs are making a huge impact in the marketplace because of homeowners wanting to have some cozy, soft areas on the floor near beds, couches, and fireplaces. Even just a few changes to your home can take it from drab to fabulous with these hot trends.

Written by Phoebe Chongchua as found in Craig Lilly’s Newsletter.

Remodeling the kitchen is the trend when we upgrade our homes.

If you’re shopping for a new home, chances are, whether you cook or not, the kitchen is an area of great interest. The bathroom is also likely high on the list to inspect. That’s because we spend a lot of time in both of these rooms, socializing and taking care of the, ahem, important stuff.

These two areas of homes are so vital that there’s even an association to educate, certify industry professionals, and promote ideas for these rooms. The National Kitchen and Bath Association (NKBA), founded in 1963 as The American Institute of Kitchen Dealers, has nearly 40,000 members. Earlier this year it released its top trends for kitchens and bathrooms for 2010.

Finding what you like in a home is most important but if you’re considering a resale in the future, understanding what appeals to the masses can help. Here, then, is a look at some of the top trends from NKBA.

Concealed Kitchens. This doesn’t mean that you walk into a home and can’t find the kitchen. Instead, the kitchen area blends with other areas of the home. Formal dining spaces often aren’t used much. But when a home has a kitchen that opens to a great room, it allows far more flexibility for people’s lives. What may be concealed are items such as commonly used appliances. Ultimately, the harmonious blending of color, design, and functionality make kitchens aesthetically pleasing and useful. NKBA writes in a press release that, “Clean structural lines coupled with sleek color palettes enable the space to establish a distinctive identity, without overpowering the surrounding rooms.”

Thirst-Quenching Stations. NKBA writes that beverage stations, complete with under-counter refrigerators that hold beverages and wine, are a new element in many kitchens. Exemplifying our attachment to our morning ritual, many of these beverage stations include a coffee station (“simple single-pot coffeemakers to larger units capable of espresso, latte, and cappuccino”), states NKBA. The design typically includes space for stemware, beverage mugs and glasses, and condiments. This setup allows people to gather to quench their thirst while being out of the way of the chefs.

Rounding Out the Edges. Think soft geometry. Countertops, islands, archways, and even light fixtures, are being designed with soft, round edges. According to NKBA, “The introduction of rounded islands and countertops carves a smooth-flowing traffic pattern throughout the room, while an appropriately placed arch will bring an overall softening to the more angular fixed features that are typical in kitchens and baths.”

Varied Heights. No more monotony. Kitchen countertops, islands, and even walls are being designed for specific purposes and that means their heights are varied. The various heights create “a beautiful counterbalance.”

Asian influence. There has long been a fascination with Asian countries and now it seems that the impact of Japanese design is showing up in subtle ways such as “clean lines, open spaces, and neutral color palettes with bold splashes of color in select areas,” according to NKBA. The association says oftentimes there will be “one strong anchor piece of Japanese origin” that designs are built around.

Whether you’re shopping for a new home or thinking of remodeling your current home, remember that trends do change. However, those that tend to stick are the ones that combine pleasing looks with highly functional features.

Written by Phoebe Chongchua as found in Craig Lilly’s Newsletter.

The cycle of water filtration

The safety of water in the developed world has grown by leaps and bounds over the last century. And while many countries, unfortunately, still deal daily with issues of water contamination, most Americans have access to clean water.

This luxury, however, may have caused some level of complacency concerning what goes into our water and thus into our bodies.

The copious amount of prescription drugs, bacteria, and hazardous chemicals (detergents, bleaches, etc) that are dumped into the water supply each day increases exponentially as our population grows. If the system works correctly, these chemicals are identified and processed out before water is directed into drinking supplies. But what happens when new chemicals and drugs are introduced to the water supply before there are standards for identifying and processing them?

A study by the Toxic Substances Hydrology Program of the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) already indicates that a wide range of chemicals are occurring downstream from areas of animal production and intense urbanization.

The chemicals include human and veterinary drugs (including antibiotics), natural and synthetic hormones, detergent metabolites, plasticizers, insecticides, and fire retardants.

In 80 percent of the samples taken during the study, one ore more of these chemicals was identified. According to the study, “Half of the streams contained 7 or more of these chemicals, and about one-third of the streams contained 10 or more of these chemicals. ”

The first study of its kind, it now is apparent that “knowledge of the potential human and environmental health effects of these 95 chemicals is highly varied; drinking-water standards or other human or ecological health criteria have been established for 14. Measured concentrations rarely exceeded any of the standards or criteria. Thirty-three are known or suspected to be hormonally active; 46 are pharmaceutically active. Little is known about the potential health effects to humans or aquatic organisms exposed to the low levels of most of these chemicals or the mixtures commonly found in this study.”

Even known chemicals have found their way into common water supplies. In fact, a New York Times report this month in the city of New York indicated that higher levels of lead are found in homes of those drinking from city tap water sources. They recommended residents let water run for a period of time (30 seconds) before ingesting it.

As a green living solution to this issue, you have numerous options, three of which noted below, each with varying degrees of expense. One of the cheapest forms of filtration is a filter pitcher or a filter that attaches directly to your faucet. Research is key before you buy one of these products, however, as their efficiency ranges widely.

Be sure to research what chemicals and minerals your particular choice has proven to remove.

You may choose to buy distilled waters from your local grocery. This, too, can be another step towards healthier waters. Be sure to buy refillable jugs, however, so you don’t contribute to plastic overuse!

And finally, there have been recent movements into purifying not only our drinking water, but all the water we use in our homes. Whole house water filtration systems can be fairly inexpensive (in the $100′s to low $1,000′s) and can filter out such things as: chlorine, heavy metals, pesticides, and chemicals. They can last for years until you need to change your filter.

If you are concerned about chemicals that may be in your normal drinking water, you can order tests online or may even find them at your local hardware store. This is a great first step toward cleaner water for you and your family!

Written by Carla Hill as found in Craig Lilly’s Newsletter.

Home too small - Choose home improvements or move?

The walls are closing in. Your teenagers are warring over closet space and you long to have a real office room instead of camping out at the kitchen table. What’s the best solution? Should you improve the house or move to another?

The answers to four primary questions are a good place to start in the dilemma to improve the house or purchase another. Homeowners who are happy with their current neighborhood and school district (usually the top two owner’ priorities) are wise to weigh answers to the following:

1. How long do you intend to keep the house?

This initial question has impact on several levels. First, it makes little financial sense to pour money into a house only to sell it. Second, if you’ve ever lived around and through a remodeling project, you know that the emotional upheaval you suffer during construction needs to be offset by enjoying the benefits once the improvements are complete.

Even if you aren’t thinking of moving in the near future, be sure to do the math in the following question before wading knee-deep into a project.

2. Will you be able to recoup the cost of improvements when you sell?

A real estate agent or appraiser can show you comparable properties (comps) of recent sales to determine how much if any the improvements will increase market value. If you make improvements that don’t add to market value, be prepared to walk away from what you’ve spent especially if selling in a short period of time (less than five years on the average, depending on the type of improvement.)

3. Are the improvements you’re considering logical given the age, size, and location of the house?

Just as you wouldn’t install a new sunroof on a dilapidated car, making expensive additions to a house that’s full of functional obsolescence makes little financial sense.

Many appraisers would tell you that it’s much tougher to recoup the investment from home improvements if they aren’t similar in style and design/era to the existing home. And before hammering the first nail, make sure you check the setback requirements for construction especially on rear and side lot lines. What a nightmare it would be to construct a room addition, only to have all or part of it in violation of zoning laws and/or owned in part by your neighbor!

4. Could additions/changes over-improve the house?

A house at the top of the market for the neighborhood can take longer to sell since buyers often purchase on the low side, hoping to maximize equity and improvements made over time. There are some additions that aren’t welcomed by certain buyer segments.

For example, families with young children might shy away from owning a swimming pool since it’s the number one cause of death for children under age five. A remodeled master suite in a third-floor loft could be undesirable if the prospective buyer/target was retirees. Even though you may want to make additions/changes based on your immediate needs and desires, it never hurts to look down stream at who a potential future buyer might be in order to avoid over-improvements you can’t recoup.

By asking these top four questions, you may not have all the information you need to adequately weigh improving the house versus moving to another. But they will serve as talking points to get you focused on solving your homeownership needs in an organized and cost-effective manner.

Written by Julie Garton-Good as found in Craig Lilly’s Newsletter.

Stone Countertops

Homeowners are leaving behind the once-preferred 70′s looks of wall-to-wall carpeting throughout the house, linoleum kitchen floors and vinyl tiles in the bathroom, and instead choosing natural stone, Versailles patterns, travertine, and limestone, with honed-matte finished surfaces. For countertops, homeowners are using two tones, finishing their kitchen island in maybe limestone and the surrounding kitchen countertops in granite materials for a unique style.

At one time granite and marble were only seen in office buildings, while rustic style stone only was used in vacation homes.

“People are trying to personalize their homes more than they did before. Before you used to go through the house and you’d do everything pretty much the same overall. Now people are bringing in different types of materials like glass tile, mosaics, different designs, different sizes, textures, into the same room. They tend to want to give each room more personality by adding different types of products,” said Giovanna Gomes, President of Stones Unlimited on Miramar Road.

What is completely losing a place in homes is the white tile countertops that was the staple in every home for decades. “White tile used to be typical when building or remodeling a house. Now we’re seeing all white ceramic tile is being replaced with solid surface countertops such as granite which has no grout lines and is easier to care for,” said Lilliana Bosforo, Director of Fabrication for Stones Unlimited.

There are many different choices, sizes, textures and styles of stone. Pricing varies depending on the type selected. Some very expensive flooring is even brought back from old chateaus and farmhouses in Europe that are scheduled for demolition. The 100 to 200-year-old stone material is brought to the US for cleaning, sanitizing, sizing and cataloging.

The chic look and durability of stone makes it appealing to homeowners. But experts caution that before it’s put in homeowners should understand the maintenance required and the issues that may come up. One of the most common problems is stains. Because stone is very porous, if you spill things on it, the stone can easily absorb the liquid. However, proper care such as sealing the stone can alleviate this problem.

Gomes also said that you should consider how much foot traffic you have in various areas of your home before putting in stone floors. “Honed surfaces are usually the best because they’re matte finishes so they don’t wear like a polished material would. A polished marble will scratch and if you drop something acidic it’ll etch which means the polish will be removed in that particular area. So there are more maintenance issues with polished surfaces,” said Gomes.

However, honed surfaces show less wear pattern. Gomes said you can also be more aggressive with your cleaning, “It’ll always look beautiful.”

For countertops Bosforo recommends granite because it is dense and easy to maintain. “You’re going to have your least amount of problems with a granite over marbles or limestone which some people do put those in their kitchens, but we let them know that there will be more maintenance with a marble or a limestone and, of course, you’d want to do it honed,” Bosforo said.

Another reason granite is recommended over marble or limestone is because acids in some foods can etch the stone and cause it to leave marks or rings on the materials.

When deciding which stone to choose, keep in mind these handy tips from Stones Unlimited:

1. Granite is most suitable for kitchens and bar counters because it is the most dense. It also resists hot and cold. Acidic foods will not etch the polish.

2. Marble is not as dense as granite but is more so than travertine. Marble works well for bathroom flooring, on back splashes and fireplaces.

3. Travertine is not as dense as marble but is more so than limestone.

4. Limestone is the softest and most porous of the stones. It requires more frequent sealing.

5. Slate is an excellent choice for outdoors or indoors.

Written by Phoebe Chongchua as found in Craig Lilly’s Newsletter.

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