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Builder Concept Home 2012 features a house for boomers
Three homes. Three generations — X, Y, and Boomer. Builder Concept Home 2012 is sponsored by Hanley Wood, a multimedia firm that develops magazines, online publications, exhibitions and conferences, and custom marketing and data services for the construction and building industry.
Homebuyers are invited to take a photo-realistic virtual tour of the Boomer house, which is online starting February 8. The home features a one-level floor plan with plenty of private, common, and outdoor spaces for the older couple who remains active. While the house was conceptualized for baby boomers in retirement, this property is potentially functional for a small family unit, no matter what the age of household members.
This Boomer house seeks to provide comfortable living spaces with the latest design features:
- A covered courtyard for entertaining gives guests direct access to the dining area and connects the two main parts of the house — the bedroom suites and the great room.
- Sliding glass panels are integrated for several of the rooms throughout, allowing easier access.
- The master bedroom suite is complete with a zero-threshold walk-in shower and an adjoining study.
- And the guest bedroom has its own kitchen. It’s perfect for the “boomerang” child, relative, or caregiver who needs a suite of their own.
Model homes for generations X, Y, and B are situated in the Eagle Creek golf course community near Lake Nona, about 30 minutes from the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Fla. For those who can’t make it to Orlando, the virtual tour will not disappoint.
25406 106th Ave SE #E4 in East Hill is Sold!
East Hill, Kent
This smoke alarm sings
Every house should have a smoke alarm. Most detectors on the market alert occupants with a shrill or beep. But recently, a new kind of product has emerged — the Chick-a-Dee. Created by artist Louise van der Veld, the Chick-a-Dee sings its alarm. In 2006, the Union of Dutch Insurance Companies in the Netherlands sponsored a contest to inspire designers to recreate the standard smoke alarm. The Chick-a-Dee took first place for its functionality and beauty of design.
When triggered by smoke, the Chick-a-Dee tweets like the real bird would. As increasing smoke is detected, the volume goes up and the chirping quickens. For the price of $79, households get the detector with a one-and-a-half year battery life, plus a three-year product warranty.
Whether you choose the $79 or the $7 version, FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) recommends that families living in multi-story homes install at least one detector per floor. Avoid placing smoke alarms in the kitchen or garage, where cooking and auto fumes can trigger them. For more information on detectors, how they work, and other information, refer to FEMA’s website.
Real estate gets into the Superbowl
The National Retail Federation Survey forecasts that consumer spending on Superbowl paraphernalia — food, munchies, booze — will hit a record high of $11 billion dollars. That exceeds the heights of holiday spending this past year, when Americans spent $7 billion on Halloween and another $6 billion on Christmas decorations. (Has your jaw dropped yet?)
An estimated 110 million viewers will watch the New York Giants and New England Patriots vie for the championship. But that’s not all. Big companies plan to unveil slick commercial ads that aim to humor, entertain, and pull at consumer heartstrings. Will real estate get in the game? You betcha. Century 21 Real Estate will make a debut appearance with a 30-second spot during the third quarter. The ad features Donald Trump and notables in the sports world being outsmarted by none other than a real estate pro.
Will you be watching Superbowl XLVI? Game starts at 6:30 p.m. EST on NBC this Sunday, February 5. Catch a preview of the ad at Inman News.
Winter is the perfect season to organize
If the cold and wind are keeping you indoors this season, there are a slew of small household projects that can have significant impact on the family’s comfort and ease of living. Martha Stewart Living suggests 21 simple ways to divide and conquer oft-forgotten areas.
- Create a calendar using sticky post-its to map out important dates and goals.
- Keep emergency road supplies ready to go in the car.
- Make a go-to stain treatment kit for stubborn spills.
- File the many computer passwords that are running through your head.
- Store bulk food items in groups and in style.
Beyond post-its are other household tools for organizing. For the home office, the label maker is your best friend. Take the guesswork out of finding important documents by labeling every binder, file, and box. If your drawers are a mess, consider using Rubbermaid’s interlocking plastic dividers, available in six different sizes. They are ideal for clothing, office supplies, and even kitchen utensils.
Don’t succumb to procrastination — organize through the winter and be ready for spring.
