new Windows for home improvement & Energy Efficiency
Remodel With Functional Windows
 Despite the nation's bumpy economy, today's homeowners aren't scrimping on remodeling. They're spending more time at home, often taking advantage of low interest rates and refinancing to make improvements.
Whether it's creating a comforting bedroom retreat or enhancing a kitchen to allow for more entertaining at home, one efficient way to increase a home's functionality as well as its beauty is to upgrade the windows.
With the hundreds of window styles and configurations available today, where to begin?
"To get the most out of new windows, it's important to go into the remodeling project with a good sense of your home's structural style and blend that with your personal style," said Dave Whelchel, director of sales and marketing for Wisconsin-based Hurd Millwork Company.
Here are some tips for blending style and functionality into window remodeling projects:
Start a portfolio of ideas. Before spending any money, make an investment of time. Look through magazines and clip photos of rooms that you like. This will make it easier to describe your wishes to designers and contractors, and save money by speeding up the decision-making process. Include photos of windows, flooring, furnishings and decorative touches that you admire to help describe your personal style, too.
It's possible to get big results on a small budget. Many window upgrades can be accomplished without changing the size of the wall opening. For example, you can dramatically change the look of a room by replacing a simple sliding glass patio door with a set of fashionable French doors -- and you won't have to spend extra money to redo the wall.
Look at the room from the outside in. Keep the outside of your home in mind when you remodel on the inside. A welcoming window in a beautiful shape, such as an arched curve-top design, can set the stage for guests and give a hint of what's inside.
Understand the light. From what direction does the light come into the room? It could impact your choice of windows. For example, consider the beauty of morning sun streaming through individual panes of glass, casting patterns throughout the room as the day's light changes. You can achieve that look by adding window grilles -- ornamental pieces that visually divide the glass to give it the look of individual panes.
Keep fresh air in mind. When remodeling with windows, take the room's airflow patterns into consideration. You can dramatically change the feel of a room by adding cross-ventilation, or installing a window that brings in the fresh breeze off a lake.
Save energy with windows. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, an average household spends more than 40 percent of its annual energy budget on heating and cooling costs. To help cut down on energy costs, look for windows and patio doors that display the ENERGY STAR label, a national symbol for energy efficiency.
Invest in a design professional or custom homebuilder. It could actually save money by helping you avoid mistakes. Talk to people who have recently remodeled and ask for recommendations or visit online resources such as the American Institute of Architects, the American Society of Interior Designers, or the National Association of Home Builders.
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