Smart home technologies increase functionality, save energy and create a seamless living environment The definition of a smart home has evolved as consumers’ interests have become more demanding. Smart home devices are designed with convenience in mind and aim to make home life more efficient. A wide variety of smart home technology exists, and in READ MORE
Spread a little holiday love with a yard that sparkles and shines Christmas lights are getting a workout in 2020. Think back to March when people around the country put up holiday displays to bring a little light to the darkness of the COVID-19 pandemic. Now more than ever, outdoor holiday decor is lifting spirits READ MORE
Universal home design reduces barriers to independent living Forty-year-old Ian Sibley is a U.S. Marine veteran who was injured in a motorcycle accident eight years ago while on active duty. The accident left him a quadrapeligic, paralyzed from the neck down. “Ian had to learn how to live again, but he’s come such a long READ MORE
From antibacterial surfaces to bigger offices, COVID-19 is transforming the way homes are built As the year continues, the effects of the global pandemic are quickly infiltrating every aspect of society, including our own homes. Whether in construction or due to society’s newfound consciousness of home functionality, home design is shifting rapidly to meet new READ MORE
After months of quarantine, home remodeling is back in full swing People have spent many extra hours inside their homes during the COVID-19 pandemic, hours in which they have begun to notice the parts of their homes in need of updates. While the home remodeling industry was halted during stay-at-home orders this spring, homeowners are READ MORE
Annual event honors NARI members’ success Across this country, the National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI) serves as a trade association for remodeling professionals. As part of the association, members are committed to integrity, professional education, continuous advancement, ethics and home improvement excellence. The Fox Valley NARI chapter received its charter in March of READ MORE
From perfect pergolas to welcoming ramadas, your backyard never looked better Now more than ever, our own backyards have become our retreats. With a pandemic waging war on our ability to escape our own homes, creating a backyard sanctuary has never been more appealing or more needed. Andy Vande Hey, president of Vande Hey Company READ MORE
Custom home offices provide personalized space for taking care of business More Americans are working from home than ever before. Currently, 43 percent of all U.S. employees work off-site at least part time, according to Gallup’s State of the American Workplace report. As the lines between home and work continue to blur (and retiring doesn’t READ MORE
The Fox Cities are experiencing a downtown housing boom By Amelia Compton Wolff with research assistance by Zack Dion Appleton resident Abigail Kuehl lives downtown with her husband and three children. Two years ago, the family of five sold their home near Appleton West High School and moved into the Historic Fox River Mills Apartments READ MORE
Resolutions to make home life happier in 2020 The new year is a time to refresh and recommit to our goals. We commonly make resolutions for ourselves, but why not for our homes, too? Perhaps you’ve had a home renovation on your to-do list for a while, or you’ve been wanting to adopt a more READ MORE
