Renovating for Life 01 Americans Green Their homes 03 Maximizing Bang for the Buck 02 Telecommuting & Home Office 05 Indoor/Outdoor Living 06 Universal Design 04 04 TOP CONSUMER TRENDS 2010 >> Click image to jump to trend

Renovating for Life Americans are staying put. While as many as 1 in 5 of Americans moved in a given year in the 1970s, only about 10% of the population relocates in a typical year now, according to the Census Bureau. In fact, 2009 may go down as the year with the lowest mobility rate since World War II. The stay-at-home trend is particularly strong among later boomers, according to futurist Joel Kotkin. Either due to personal choice or staying in the workforce longer, these individuals are forgoing a sunny retirement home and remaining in their current residence. They’re choosing to remodel...

Maximizing Bang for Buck Homeowners are paying special attention to the cost effectiveness of their projects and hoping to maximize the return on investment. According to Remodeling magazine’s 22nd annual cost vs. value survey, wood replacement windows are among the home improvement projects with the greatest return on investment, typically returning 77.3% percent of their cost on resale. Other high-return improvement projects include attic bedrooms (returning 83.1% of cost), wood deck addition (80.6%) and minor kitchen remodel (78.3%). Despite lower renovation costs, homeowners are expected...

Americans Green Their Homes Americans continue to seek greener homes. After peaking in 2006 at 2,600 square feet, average new home sizes have shrunk to 2,400 square feet, according to Census Bureau data. Following the lead of thinkers like architect Sarah Susanka, bestselling author of “The Not So Big House,” homeowners are choosing to maximize the features of their homes, rather than the square footage. Super-sized foyers and master baths are out; intimate living areas and kitchens are in. Homeowners are incorporating green values into their remodeling plans. Energy efficiency renovations are...

04 Recent census data show that more than 29% of Americans aged 64 and over suffer some form of physical disability that makes it difficult for them to climb stairs, open doors and windows, or use a historically designed bathroom. That number reinforces the need for Universal Design when it comes to home building and remodeling for an aging - yet still independent – population. Marvin Windows and Doors is responding to the growing need for Universal Design with products like: The Ultimate Casement line of windows, which swivel 140 degrees in wash mode to allow owners to wash the outside of the...

Telecommuting & Home Office The number of employees who telecommute continues to rise. More than 38 percent of the U.S. adult workforce telecommutes at least once day per month. The factors driving employees’ desire to work from home include the high price of fuel and a need for schedule flexibility. Employers save on office costs by having employees work from home and on relocation costs for new hires. U.S. firms have doubled their spending on freelance and part-time workers over the past six years, according to CNBC. Advances in technology have made it easier for individuals to start and run...

Indoor/Outdoor Living America’s love affair with patios and decks shows no signs of fading. According to Census Bureau data, more than 2 million American homeowners add a deck or patio to their home each year. And with patios come patio doors. Quality patio doors with energy-efficient glass and the natural insulation of wood open up a home to the outdoors, maximizing light and views while minimizing energy loss. Seeking to stretch their entertainment budgets, Americans are spending more time grilling, cooking, and socializing at home, a trend that also shows in the popularity of “staycations.”...