2008 Seattle Home Show 2 - Home Show Tips for Visitors

HomeSavvi was at the 2008 Seattle Home Show 2, at Qwest Field Event Center from October 16–19, 2008. Some of the highlights of the show were the free hourly seminars ("Going Green Without the Greenbacks" presented by Eleanor Olsen, Total Spaces Design, Member of NKBA), the amazing kitchen and bath exhibits, and wide array of new green products. One product that particularly stood out was the impressive and modern Divine™ ExactTemp 3/4" Vertical Spa Set, in Lighting Universe's booth.

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Seattle Home Show Visitors- Savvi Tips

Savvi Tip #1: Future Seattle Home Show visitors- buy your tickets online. E-ticket holders may have certain offers, coupons, or discounts that you can't have if you buy your ticket at the door. For example, the previous spring Seattle Home Show e-ticket holders received a free chowder voucher, while Seattle Home Show 2 e-ticket holders received free parking for Thursday and Friday at the Qwest Field Event Center parking lot (a $10 value).

Savvi Tip #2: You can register for an additional day without cost. It's called the “Too much to see, come back for free.™” feature, which allows show visitors to register their ID at the show so that they can visit for a second day. This comes in handy, especially if you would like to get more information about a product or show your spouse remodeling plan ideas at a later time.

Savvi Tip #3: Be aware of any other perks or promotions that you can take advantage of by visiting the Seattle Home Show media portion, "Facts at a Glance". One little known perk at the Seattle Home Show 2 was that with four or more people in a vehicle, parking was free in designated lots.

For the inside scoop on home remodeling events, guides and trends, visit HomeSavvi for all your home remodeling needs. HomeSavvi- Your Home for Home Remodeling.

Home Universal Design / Aging in Place

As aging baby boomers consider staying in their homes, Universal Design and Aging in Place will be gaining more momentum in the years to come.

What Is Universal Design and Aging in Place?
Universal Design is a concept that focuses on comfort, ease of access, and maneuverability within homes for all people, while aging in place is a popular lifestyle option for seniors preferring to safely and independently live in their homes.

Did You Know?
According to AARP, 89% of people 50+ wish to remain in their own homes indefinitely (AARP) and 75% of remodelers have seen an increase in requests for aging in place work (NAHB).

Suggested Aging In Place home modifications include:
- Installing lights strategically to maintain a well-lit hallway
- Having non-slip interior and exterior flooring
- Replacing knobs with levers handles
- Setting up cabinetry with rollout cabinets and lazy susans
- Mounting adequate handrails for stairways and ramps

NAHB, in partnership with AARP and the NAHB Research Center, has created a Certified Aging-in-Place Specialist (CAPS) program to teach remodeling professionals how to modify homes specifically geared towards Aging-In-Place. For more information, you can visit their website at http://www.nahb.org/generic.aspx?sectionID=717&genericContentID=46799.

Helpful Universal Design and Aging in Place links:

Toolbase.org-
http://www.toolbase.org/ToolbaseResources/level3.aspx?BucketID=2&CategoryID=22

AARP-
http://www.aarp.org/families/home_design/universaldesign/a2004-03-23-whatis_univdesign.html

NAHB Aging in Place Checklist- http://www.nahb.org/generic.aspx?sectionID=717&genericContentID=89801

Center for Universal Design-
http://www.design.ncsu.edu/cud/

For the inside scoop on home remodeling events, guides and trends, visit HomeSavvi for all your home remodeling needs. HomeSavvi- Your Home for Home Remodeling.

Budget Decorating Tips - 5 Ways to Bring Flair to Your Rooms

When it comes to home decorating, you can dramatically enhance your home without breaking the bank. Here are five simple ways you can update your home while on a budget.

Paint is always going to give you the biggest bang for your buck. Bright or bold color can add drama. You can do different walls in shades of the same hue or pick up a few colors drawn from the room's fabrics and accessories. If you are up to a challenge, use painting tape or stencils to create shapes and patterns.

Accents and accessories bring out your personality. Spread candles throughout your home to give a cozy feel. Old postcards or photos printed in black and white or sepia make inexpensive artwork when framed. For your living room a collection of fun, colorful, or graphically interesting throw pillows transform any old sofa instantly. New towels with matching shower curtain combined with a jar of soap and a plant makes a bathroom into a relaxing getaway. Collection of different size house plants in matching ceramic pots bring warmth to any room.

Lighting can make or break a room. Consider three key lighting principles to show off your home and its design: ambient lighting infuses a room and gives a glow; task lighting provides light for specific activities and areas; and spotlights show-off artwork or reflect light. You can also have some fun with lighting by using colored light bulbs. Refresh that old lamp by buying a new shade.

Invest in a set of curtains to add lushness bring focal point to windows. Any standard, store-bought curtains can tie a room together effortlessly. Make sure that the color is represented somewhere else in the room. Embellish these window dressings with borders or tassels.

Refresh furniture with stylish slipcovers. A slipcover can hide unattractive upholstery, add a dash of color to a room, introduce a new style, or perform a seasonal makeover by adding a holiday mood to a room.

-Villette Nolon

For the inside scoop on home remodeling events, guides and trends, visit HomeSavvi for all your home remodeling needs. HomeSavvi- Your Home for Home Remodeling.

Your Photos are Worth $10

Economic news these days isn't all bad. HomeSavvi wants your remodeling photos and you can get a $10 Amazon Gift Card by sending them in!

Demo and Dust Giveaway- http://homesavvi.com/demo-and-dust/

Step 1. Sign up on HomeSavvi (becoming a member is free and it only takes a few seconds).

Step 2. Upload a minimum 3 of your remodeling DURING photos in a project named “Demo and Dust” in your Savvi Binder.

Step 3. Your $10 Amazon gift certificate will show up in your e-mail inbox within 1-2 business days.

Get value for your remodeling photos now!

For the inside scoop on home remodeling events, guides and trends, visit HomeSavvi for all your home remodeling needs. HomeSavvi- Your Home for Home Remodeling.

The Shop is Now Open!

The Savvi Store has officially open- 24/7.

You can shop the Savvi Store for many items to spruce up your home before the holiday season.

Here are some gorgeous lighting pendants from the Savvi Store that definitely caught my eye:

JR-FP12 - Flame Radiance™ Pendant, Small (Part #: 2352613)
By Jezebel
Price: $197

http://homesavvi.com/page/atgstores?&sku=2352613



4479 - Orb Multi-Light Pendant (Part #: 2387505)
By Trend Lighting
Price: $645.42

http://homesavvi.com/page/atgstores?sku=2387505


4665 - Supernova Multi-Light Pendant (Part #: 2387501)
By Trend Lighting

Price: $1,021.14

http://homesavvi.com/page/atgstores?sku=2387501


~Stacy Chan

For the inside scoop on home remodeling events, guides and trends, visit HomeSavvi for all your home remodeling needs. HomeSavvi- Your Home for Home Remodeling.

Seattle Home Remodeling Events - November

Here are Seattle home remodeling events for November-

November 8: Greening Your Home by Eva Otto of Green Works Realty
Community Workshop Series at the Habitat for Humanity Home Improvement Outlet
Greening Your Home Every home can be a green home. This class teaches you what a green home is, and how to become active in lowering energy bills and reducing your carbon footprint.
Join us to obtain tools and guides to green every aspect of your existing home. Also learn more about green home certification and how you can self-certify your home green!

November 12: Design Forum at Phinney Neighborhood Association
Bring your ideas, sketches, or detailed home improvement plans. A team of talented local architects will discuss important design considerations. We'll then divide into small groups to make progress toward the best design solutions for our individual projects. Don't miss this unusual opportunity!

November 13: Sustainable Kirkland monthly meeting
For Seattle Greendrinkers who live, work or play in Kirkland. It's the 2nd Tuesday of the month, time for the monthly Sustainable Kirkland meeting. We'll start with a potluck and then work on projects.

November 13: Weatherize Your Home at Seattle ecohaus
This home weatherization workshop will provide tips and resources on improving your home's energy efficiency, as well as ideas for making large and small scale changes to your home both inside and out.

November 22: Improving Air Quality in Your Home by American Lung Association
Community Workshop Series at the Habitat for Humanity Home Improvement Outlet
Improving Air Quality in your home Learn how to improve the air you breathe in your home and get tips on various no-cost or economical methods for improving your in home air quality.

You can sign up for HomeSavvi's monthly e-Newsletter with the latest home remodeling news, events and offers.

-Stacy Chan

For the inside scoop on home remodeling events, guides and trends, visit HomeSavvi for all your home remodeling needs. HomeSavvi- Your Home for Home Remodeling.

Official HomeSavvi Blog is up!

Welcome to HomeSavvi’s Official blog! Our goal is to help homeowners find everything they need to remodel their homes- from start to finish. We hope to provide the latest in home remodeling, events, tips and trends online.

I came across a great set of “Green Home Guides” on Seattle’s Department of Planning and Development website. The guides contain incredibly useful information about eco-friendly countertops, flooring, and even tile options. The guide highlights the costs, benefits and drawbacks of different materials, with green in mind. If you’re interested in doing a green remodeling project, I’d highly recommend checking the guides out!

Green Kitchen Guide
Green Bath & Laundry Guide

-Stacy Chan

For the inside scoop on home remodeling events, guides and trends, visit HomeSavvi for all your home remodeling needs. HomeSavvi- Your Home for Home Remodeling.