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Check out these 9 great ideas for making your home more livable from Josh Garskof at CNNMoney.com and then find a remodeler to help you get started with the project by searching the directory of the Professional Remodelers Organization HERE.

Now may be a less than ideal time to put a house on the market or to take on big debt — icing your plans to trade up or build an addition anytime soon. But that doesn’t mean you’re stuck living in an uncomfortable home.

For a few hundred to a few thousand dollars, you can make your place “live” bigger without actually making it bigger, says architect Sarah Susanka, a small-space specialist and author of “Not So Big Remodeling.”

Call it thinking inside the box; read the full article on Yahoo for nine creative solutions for cramped homes.

Read the full article here.

Or copy this link ito your browser:  http://realestate.yahoo.com/promo/9-remodeling-tips-to-make-your-home-feel-bigger.html

Come out to Bridgeport Village to see the new Santa House built by the PROs

In case you haven’t seen it yet – the PRO Santa House at Bridgeport Village is a sight to behold and a testament to what can be accomplished through generosity and tenacity even in these difficult economic times.

The project is a truly collaborative effort of the Professional Remodelers Organization (PRO) with over 60 individuals from over 40 companies pitching in tens of thousands of dollars worth of materials and man-hours to bring this project to life. It took months of preparation and several incredibly generous donations of time, materials, and funds from companies like Contract Furnishings Mart, Powerhouse Construction, and many more, to create a structure that can be taken apart in panels, stored on pallets in the off season and re-erected onsite… plus it had to pass the permitting process through the city of Tualatin! With a lot of help from the members of the Professional Remodelers Organization, the Santa House is complete and open for visitors Monday through Saturday through Christmas Eve.

To find a member of the PRO to help you with your home remodeling needs visit our directory here.

Some of the many PRO elves that helped out with the Santa House project for Bridgeport Village

It takes an army of PROs to set the last wall for the 2011 PRO Santa House!

The Professional Remodelers Organization wishes to recognize the following individuals and companies, without whom this project would not have been possible – thank you , thank you all:

Dan Wood, C&E Rentals
Scott Bocci, C&E Rentals
Larry Mock, Cascade Custom Remodel & Construction
Steve Pruitt, Cascade Restoration & Remodeling
Greg Wood, Cascade Restoration & Remodeling
Thomas Adams, Classic Electric, LLC
Abigail Adams, Classic Electric, LLC
Mark McGregor, Clean it Up Mark!
Steve Frazier, Contract Furnishings Mart
Thomas Payne, Craftsman Homes Group LLC
Sonja Bell, Custom Stone Creations
Theresa Springer, Directors Mortgage
Scott Dual, Dual Purpose Construction
Chris Barry, Energy Trust of Oregon
Michael Pender, Fisher Roofing
Tom & Alejandro, Fisher Roofing
Andrew Morphis, Green Hammer Inc
Linda Blackwood, Interiors by Blackwood, LLC
Andy Stember, JAS Engineering
Luke Morley, Lakeside Lumber
Anthony Scales, Milgard Windows – Portland
Tim Doolittle, Miller Paint
Patrick Richardson, Murrayhill Remodeling Co.
Lee Zajic, N.W. Renovations & Design Co.
Kellie Hainline, National Builders Hardware
Dave Szyplinski, National Builders Hardware
Patty Davis, Natural Stone Designs, Inc.
Tom White, North West Framing Inc.
Sean Alexander, North West Framing Inc.
Nancy Cranston, PARR Lumber Company
Scott Coffey, PARR Lumber Company
Robin McKnight, Powerhouse Construction, Inc.
Justan Proulx, Powerhouse Construction, Inc.
Nate Seiler, Powerhouse Construction, Inc.
Jonathan Whitchurch, Powerhouse Construction, Inc.
Michael Barnum, Powerhouse Construction, Inc.
Nate Bond, ProBuild
Ed Becker, ProBuild
Todd Hertner, Rebuild LLC
Gordon Root, Root Holdings, LLC
Nate McNeely, Sherwin-Williams Co.
Jamie Laird, Sherwin-Williams Co.
Nancy Long, Sisu Painting, Inc.
Cylina Sanchez, Sisu Painting, Inc.
Frank Sanchez, Sisu Painting, Inc.
Roger Fernandez, Sisu Painting, Inc.
Dale Bell, Sky Heating & Air Conditioning
Steve Stolze, SLS Remodel and Additions
Tim Nielsen, Southgate Wallboard
Mitch Stanley, Stanley Renovation & Design, Inc.
Dave Silvey, Suburban Door Company Inc.
Dean Wescott, Suburban Door Company Inc.
Steve Klingerman, T.H.E. Remodel Group
John Scott, T.H.E. Remodel Group
Dave Parker, The Cronin Company
Rob Novak, The Cronin Company
Inspector Bill King and all of the Tualatin Building Officials
Linda Beymer, W.B. Adams Co.
Wayne Randall, Wayne S. Randall Construction
Jake Randall, Wayne S. Randall Construction
Moe Salem, Westside Drywall & Insulation
Louise Farrar-Wegener, Z-3 Design Studio Inc.
And so many individual members of the Professional Remodelers Organization, Building Green Council and Home Builders Association of Metro Portland who took the time to make calls or give of their time and resources in a myriad of ways to ensure the success of this project.

Thank you and Happy Holidays from the Professional Remodelers Organization.

Nearly 200 home building professionals gathered for the Home Builders Association of Metropolitan Portland’s sixth annual Excellence Awards Banquet, which recognizes the outstanding work of local companies across a variety of marketing, green building, remodeling, and residential building categories.

This year, the Home Builders Association presented 28 awards to 21 different companies.  Of those awards, 12 Remodeling Excellence Awards were presented; 9 for excellence in remodeling and 3 for excellence in design. Winners were selected by a panel of industry professionals who rated each project based on its aesthetics, general design, budgetary considerations, and challenges and obstacles faced.

“The annual Excellence Awards competition is a testament to the undying spirit of the remodeling and building industry in our community,” said HBA President Karl Finkelnburg. “Despite very difficult economic conditions, these professionals continue to pour their hearts and souls into their work and to produce the highest-caliber projects. All things considered, it is a great time to purchase a new home or revamp an existing home. I applaud the individuals who lead our association and industry through their efforts and commitment to excellence.”

REMODELING EXCELLENCE AWARDS

Residential Bath Design – The Urban Realm, Inc.

Residential Kitchen Design – Paolo Design Group

Residential Whole House Design – Paolo Design Group

Bathroom Remodel – Neil Kelly Design/Build Remodeling

Kitchen Remodel under $100,000 – Metke Remodeling & Woodworking Inc.

Kitchen Remodel $100,000 and above – Cascade Restoration & Remodeling

Master Suite Remodel – Neil Kelly Design/Build Remodeling

Open Category – Craftsman Design and Renovation

Exterior/Outdoor Living/Deck Remodel – Stanley Renovation & Design, Inc.

Whole House Remodel under $250,000 – Neil Kelly Design/Build Remodeling

Whole House Remodel $250,000-$375,000 – NW Renovations and Design Co.

Whole House Remodel $375,000-$500,000 – Cascade Restoration and Remodeling

The awards program was sponsored by ProBuild, Energy Trust of Oregon, Contract Furnishings Mart & Ansonylon, The Oregonian, and OregonLive.com.

Excellence awards were also presented in the categories of Green Building, Marketing, and Residential Building.  For more information about the Excellence Awards or other HBA or PRO programs, go to www.hbapdx.org.

The Professional Remodelers Organization of the Home Builders Association of Metropolitan Portland is dedicated to facilitating expert remodeling choices to all residents in the greater Portland area.  PRO partners with related industry professionals creating an environment which enables members to effectively and knowledgeably meet the needs of their clients and employees.

KBIS 2011: What’s New, Who’s There and What It Means For Your Kitchen

Gold, Bronze & Copper for the Kitchen & Bath

New Products at KBIS

In the kitchen, the latest trend is not falling for hyped-up trends.

The trend right now is to be untrendy or at least, to appear that way. Our lackluster economy and environmental awareness has resulted in a celebration of classic, sustainable design, and a less “Hummer” approach to decorating. In the kitchen, the focus du jour is about recycling consciously, refining gradually and regretting minimally.

When the urge to redo is tempered by financial insecurity, consumer conservatism sets in. Homeowners are getting coached on how to stay fad-free and debt-free, self-educating through relevant books such as “Right-Sizing Your Home” by Gale Steves and cable shows such as Sweat Equity on the DIY Network. Amy Matthews, “Sweat’s” hands-on host, urges remodelers to get organized and make design mood boards, before reworking their space. Doling out reality-based resale tips, Matthews stresses to “fit the remodel with the price point of the home and the neighborhood it’s in.”

It’s kind of cool right now to adopt a thrifty and conservative mindset, or as Paul Anater, kitchen-bath designer and the editor of Kitchen and Residential Design, observes, “at least appear that we are.” While blatantly obnoxious gadgetry and short-lived design ideas are scarce, manufacturers are tailoring their designs to fit today’s popular attitudes and ways of being. Of course, it’s a free country, and not everyone will follow the fold.

But here’s the good news: Most people are shopping smart and not buying compulsively. Sarah Fishburne, The Home Depot‘s Trend and Design Director, says, “It takes about six months for a customer to start thinking about doing a kitchen to when they make the decision to buy. It really is the trend to know how you need your space designed.” After interviewing 300 homeowners, Steves’ findings were similar. People are staying put and reworking their space so that it functions more efficiently. “Right-Sizing”, which describes living better in the space that you have, is right on target.

Read more at shelterpop.com.

These trends come from more than 100 designers who are members of the National Kitchen & Bath Association (NKBA), and have designed kitchens or bathrooms during the last three months of 2010.

1) Quartz Countertops
Quartz continues to take away market share from granite in the market for bathroom vanity tops. A year ago, 85% of NKBA bathroom designers incorporated granite into a recent design, compared to just 48% for quartz, but now, that gap has narrowed to 83% for granite and 54% for quartz. Unlike in the kitchen, solid surfaces haven’t gained much popularity in the bathroom, increasing only from 23% to 25% over the past year. Meanwhile, solid marble has declined from 46% to 37%, while cultured marble and onyx have increased from 12% to 19%. No other material has even 10% of the market.

2) Green Bathrooms
No, we’re not referring to eco-friendly spaces—we literally mean green bathrooms. A year ago, green color palettes were used by only 14% of NKBA designers, but at the end of 2010, that figure had risen to 24%. Still, whites and off-whites, beiges, and browns are the three most commonly used color tones in bathrooms. However, while white and off-white palettes are up slightly from 57% to 60%, beiges are down sharply from 66% to 57%, while browns have dropped from 48% to 38%. Other common color tones include blues at 22%, grays at 21%, and bronzes and terracottas at 17%.

3) A Worthy Vessel
Under-mount sinks continue to dominate newly remodeled bathrooms, with 97% of NKBA bathroom designers having specified them over the last three months of 2010, up from 95% a year earlier. However, vessel sinks have become the clear second choice among designers, as 51% of NKBA member designers have specified them in the final quarter of 2010, up from 39% a year ago. Integrated sink tops were also up from 34% to 38%, pedestal sinks were up from 21% to 29%, and drop-in sinks were up from 23% to 27%. This shows that bathroom designers have been specifying more lavoratory sinks across the board.

4) Satin Nickel Faucets
This trend relates to both bathrooms and kitchens. From the end of 2009 to the end of 2010, the percent of NKBA designers who specified a satin nickel faucet rose from 41% to 63% in the kitchen and from 45% to 57% in the bathroom, while the percent who specified a brushed nickel faucet fell from 61% to 48% in the kitchen and from 66% to 38% in the bathroom. Other popular faucet finishes in both the kitchen and bathroom are bronze and oil-rubbed bronze, polished chrome, and polished nickel. However, while stainless steel is popular in the kitchen, specified recently by 44% of designers, that figure drops to just 16% in the bathroom.

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These trends come from more than 100 designers who are members of the National Kitchen & Bath Association (NKBA), and have designed kitchens or bathrooms during the last three months of 2010.

1) Shake It Up
The Shaker style began a rise in popularity in 2009 and gained momentum in 2010. By the end of the year, Shaker has supplanted Contemporary as the second most popular style used by NKBA member designers. While Traditional remains the most popular style, having been used by 76% of designers surveyed over that last three months of 2010, that’s a slight drop from the previous year. Meanwhile, the percent of respondents who designed contemporary kitchens fell to 48%, while Shaker rose to 55%. Cottage was the only other style to garner at least 20% of the market, as it registered at 21%.

2) Dark Finishes
Dark natural finishes overtook medium natural, glazed, and white painted finishes to become the most specified type of finish toward the end of 2010. While medium natural fell from being used by 53% to 48% of designers, glazed from 53% to 42%, and white painted from 49% to 47%, dark natural finishes rose from 42 to 51%. Light natural and colored painted finishes remained fairly common, as each rose slightly from the previous year: 24% to 25% for light natural and 24% to 29% for colored paints. Distressed finishes dropped significantly from a year ago, when they were used by 16% of designers, to just 5%.

3) A Place for Wine
While the incorporation of wine refrigerators seems to be on the decline (see Bonjour Réfrigérateur below), unchilled wine storage is growing in popularity. While only 39% of surveyed designers incorporated wine storage areas into their kitchens at the end of 2009, just over half—51%—did so as 2010 came to a close. While other types of cabinetry options remain more common, most are on the decline, including tall pantries (89% to 84%), lazy Susans (90% to 78%), and pull-out racks (81% to 71%). Appliance garages also seem to be falling out of favor, as their use declined from 36% at the end of 2009 to 29% a year later.

4) Bonjour Réfrigérateur
The French door refrigerator has strengthened its position as the type specified most often by NKBA member designers. While freezer-top refrigerators were only specified by 8% of designers as 2010 drew to a close—down from 10% a year earlier, freezer-bottom models fell very slightly from 60% to 59% and side-by-side units actually rose slightly from 46% to 49%. Meanwhile, French door refrigerators jumped from 67% to 78%. Among smaller units, refrigerator or freezer drawers remained flat at 31%, while undercounter wine refrigerators fell sharply from 50% to 36%, an interesting change given the increasing use of unchilled wine storage.

5) Inducting a New Cooktop
Induction cooktops haven’t overtaken gas and electric models, but they’re closing the gap. As we entered 2010, gas cooktops had been recently specified by 76% of NKBA designers, compared to 38% for electric and 26% for induction. However, while the incorporation of gas cooktops has fallen to 70%, electric cooktops has risen slightly to 41%, while induction cooktops are up to 34%. Meanwhile, single wall ovens are down from 46% to 42%, although double wall ovens are up from 68% to 74%. In addition, warming drawers are down from 49% to 42%, and ranges are down sharply from 81% to 68%.

6) LED Lighting
Incandescent lighting continues its journey to obsolescence. While 50% of NKBA member designers incorporated incandescent bulbs into their designs at the end of 2009, only 35% have done so a year later. Instead, designers are clearly opting for more energy-efficient lighting options. While the use of halogen lighting is down from 46% to 40% over the past year, LED (light-emitting diode) lighting has increased from 47% to 54%. Designers aren’t turning to CFLs (compact fluorescent lights) as a solution, though, most likely due to the poor quality of light they produce; their use by designers remained flat at 35%.

7) Trashy Designs
A greater emphasis is being made to address trash considerations in the kitchen. Some 89% of kitchens designed by NKBA members in the final quarter of 2010 include a trash or recycling pull-outs. In addition, garbage disposals were incorporated by 86% of designers, up from 75% the previous year. Trash compactors have also become more common. Entering 2010, they were recently used in designs by 11% of designers, but a year later, that figure had climbed to 18%. These changes may be due to an increase in sustainability awareness, but they certainly indicate an increase in concern toward trash generated in the kitchen.

• Clean you space in increments
• Prepare a staging area for storing items
• Anticipate cooking needs
• Remove furniture
• Make arrangements for pets
• Keep a positive attitude

Read the entire aricle here.

So apparently Intel Labs is working on an interactive kitchen countertop system called OASIS (Object-Aware Situated Interactive System), which projects displays directly onto the counter. You could place several food items on the counter, for example, and OASIS would generate a recipe using those ingredients.  The system also generates helpful hints and nutrition information for the items placed on the counter. You may also be able to access virtual “drawers,” activated by the touch motions similar to those you use with an iPad, which can store recipes and other virtual data related to your food and a kitchen’s contents. According to information on Intel’s website, the OASIS platform could have applications in other rooms of the house, and “is easy to retrofit to any home, any room, and almost any horizontal or vertical surface.”

No word yet on when this technology might be available.