Mike posted on December 13, 2008 21:57
The top 3 home improvement areas that all the articles talked about were:
1) Super cutting-edge kitchen appliances - these aren't necessarily stainless steel appliances, but rather appliances that you see on TV or would imagine James Bond or the Jetsons having. Computerized refrigerators that have a screen to allow you to access the internet and retrieve recipes for whatever foods are inside the refrigerator - they think for you. Ovens that lift up so you don't have to do heavy lifting of dishes, etc. We already have the venting fans that rise up at the push of a button, so why not ovens as well? Ovens that use steam to heat foods - keeps them juicier and better for us.
2) Outdoor kitchens - these seem to be all the rage in many places around the country. It's one more way of bringing our living spaces outdoors and making them more functional at the same time. Entertaining outdoors is quite nice when everything you need is right there in your outdoor kitchen - grill, outdoor refrigerator, sink, etc. I've seen everything from souped-up designer outdoor kitchens to the bare basics, and everything in between. It's all about having living space outdoors that's functional and everyone ejoys using.
3) 'Green' everything - we all want to live in a better, safer, cleaner environment, and many have been doing their part to help achieve that for several years. Some ways we can all live with a little more green are by going for Energy Star appliances when replacing current appliances, going for higher efficiency windows when it's time to replace your windows at home, recycling more and more, etc. There are inumerable ways to be more environmentally-friendly and to use less energy, from collecting rainwater for watering lawns and plants, to using canvas bags at the grocery stores, buying organic and whole foods, using solar heat and windmills for harnassing power, etc.
