Archive for the ‘General’ Category

The most wonderful time of the year is here! It’s the season when heart warmth blossoms as the outer world waxes cold — a time to count our many blessings, and give thanks for each and every one.

And so, from all of us here at Get Dwell, a warm and hearty thank you! We’re deeply grateful for the many relationships we’ve built over the past year; grateful for your business and your trust.

This is the time of year that your relationship with Get Dwell pays off. Whether it’s having fixed those troublesome doors that don’t close right, getting the exterior of your house buttoned up for winter or making your home more comfortable with quick energy efficiency fixes, you know that your home will be a warm and secure sanctuary against whatever winter weather brings your way.

So as you gather with your family and friends, thank yourself for letting us help you be prepared for a festive holiday season! Your house thanks you too!

While most of you only ever meet one or two of us, Get Dwell has grown over the years. A lot of teamwork goes into every one of our projects. All of our project managers are top craftsmen with many years of practical experience; each of them brings a unique field of expertise to the table, guaranteeing that whatever your home needs, we’ll be able to partner with you for a successful project.  We understand the importance you place on trust, professionalism and accountability when working with us and we work hard every day to hold ourselves to the same high standard. We’re proud of our team and we are ever so thankful for the great clients we get to serve every day.

We wish you and your family a wonderful holiday season!

Winter’s blustery chill is just around the corner. How ready is your home to withstand it? Think back to last winter. Memories of that less-than-gentle breeze coming through the family room and those curiously high heating bills may have faded. But now is the perfect time to focus on being comfortable at home during this season of living indoors.

As homeowners, we typically know very little about our homes. What we do know is how much it costs to heat and cool the home, what areas are uncomfortable or downright drafty, and that some improvements could probably be done to make things better. The question is, where do you start?

This is where our friends at Green Dream Group come in. This independent, scientific building performance verification firm specializes in home audits that help homeowners lower heating bills, while increasing their home’s comfort and energy efficiency in an environmentally friendly way.

Giving Your Home a Physical

We at Get Dwell often partner with Green Dream Group on many homes to help homeowners upgrade in focused, verifiable ways. The advanced testing applied in Green Dream’s Comprehensive Home Performance Assessment will pinpoint the exact opportunities for improvement, where to begin, and how to prioritize when making these improvements. It would be like sending your home to the doctor’s office for a complete physical exam! And when you, the homeowner, are armed with the knowledge of what your home needs, you can avoid costly upsells and unnecessary work that would give you little, if any, payback.

Imagine what would happen if you called a furnace expert about your home being cold and your energy bills being high.  “You need a new furnace!” is what you would be told. What if you called an insulation expert, a window company, or any one of many companies that promise energy saving miracles with their one product?  You get the picture.

The most important thing to remember:  your home is like your body. It’s a system of parts working together. It’s doubtful that one thing, even as big and costly as replacing all your windows, will successfully bring your home up to optimum performance. Green Dream Group will, like a health expert, give you a complete plan for optimum performance. And it doesn’t stop there. As a client of Green Dream Group, you’ll enjoy continued support by phone until you move out. They even include a return visit, after the work has been done, for quality assurance.

For Get Dwell, a home energy audit from Green Dream is invaluable in ensuring that we’re focusing your home-improvement dollars wisely. During the holiday season Green Dream Group is offering Get Dwell’s customers a ‘Friends and Family $50 Discount’ on Comprehensive Home Performance Assessments. Get your home in shape before winter sets in. Keep the cold out – and the comfort in! Want to know more? Give Get Dwell a call today.

At Get Dwell, we’re always looking for excellent local craftsman who can help our clients reach their home repair and redesign goals. And when your needs change, one company clients in our area recommend is Change Design Group. Jeff Burch of Change Design Group explains what people are looking for today and what trends they are seeing.

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“As the seasons change and 2010 comes to a close, homeowners are excited about finishing up some projects before the holidays and looking forward to new projects for the new year. The current economy has shown many homeowners the value of making their home into a beautiful refuge for their families. Homeowners are looking a little more inward at just how to remodel their home and create as much value as they can.

“One of the current trends is the continued focus on green design. Using natural materials such as wood, bamboo and cork, as well as recycled and reclaimed materials can not only improve the atmosphere at home, but can also conserve natural resources. Homeowners are looking for appliances and faucets that conserve both electricity and water. Our clients depend upon us to recommend the products that will bring them the right balance of design, function and energy efficiency.

“Specialized work areas are a strong trend in kitchen design. Designated areas such as baking areas, a coffee area and organizational areas for charging devices and for messages work well for many families. As children grow, the design of a kitchen or living space must anticipate the changing needs of a family. Determining a particular family’s needs and creating a beautiful, custom solution for that family are Change Design Group’s greatest strengths.

“A strong design trend is a greater focus on lighting. The ability to create several different functional and aesthetic moods is very appealing to homeowners. Since the kitchen is the focus of so many living areas, Change Design Group is well-qualified to help their clients choose fixtures and locations to transition from bright, functional lighting to a softer lighting scheme more suitable for entertaining. Energy efficient lighting such as LED lamps bring warmth to a space without creating the heat like other types of lighting. The LED bulbs will also last for years without changing, bringing long-term value to the home.”

About Change Design Group

“Change Is Good” is the motto of Change Design Group based in Wilmette and co-founded by Mike O’Brien and Jeff Burch. They each bring a passion to the art of design and the attention to detail their clients deserve. The focus of Change Design Group is to provide design and space planning, custom cabinetry, millwork and installation for residential kitchens, libraries, offices, mudrooms and theaters. From concept to reality, Change Design Group will transform your current rooms into beautiful, functional spaces where family memories will be formed for years to come.

Mike O’Brien was classically trained as an architect at both the University of Illinois and the Ecole des Beaux Arts in France. Before partnering with Jeff Burch, he spent 15 years with de Giulio Kitchen Design in Wilmette designing hundreds of projects of all styles. Mike’s extensive experience, phenomenal artistic abilities and relaxed approach to the design process make working with him a pleasure. He is an excellent listener and will seamlessly transform a space into something beautiful that also addresses the specific needs of the homeowner.

Jeff Burch earned a business degree from Bradley University, but soon discovered after college that his true talents were in finish carpentry and project management. Jeff is a talented craftsman, extremely detail-oriented, and strives to exceed the expectations of every client. He has been involved in hundreds of projects over the course of his career and spent 6 years at de Giulio kitchen design, where he and Mike met.

$30 off gutter cleaning

$75 basement flooding assessment

$25 off Gutter Stuff installation

$100 off design projects

$100 off storm window replacement projects

Recommend a friend and Get Dwell will donate $50 to Habitat for Humanity (on projects of over $200)

We’re not excited about it either, but winter’s on the way. Now’s the time to take stock of maintenance issues you can’t — or don’t want to — address when the weather turns chilly.

Here are some fall tips that will have you ready when the leaves, and then the snow, start falling.

Paint Where Necessary

With wetter weather and cooler nights, your window of opportunity for handling touch-up painting is getting smaller. Look for areas where the paint is looking worn or beginning to crack. Now is the time to protect those places with fresh paint before the water and ice can do their damage.

Power Wash the House

Spring and summer moisture can leave a lot of dirt and grime on your home. Washing the house before winter sets has become a “must do” for many homeowners looking to get their houses looking their best before the first freeze.

Repair Gates and Fences

Once the ground freezes, fence and gate post repairs are difficult — and sometimes just impossible — to do. A good November storm will bring down a lot of loose fences and cause additional damage and neighbor complaints. If you have repair issues with your gates or fences, get to them now.

Exterior Watershed

We say it time and again: The biggest issue a house faces is water. If the roof, gutter, downspout and drainage system and is not 100%, you will have issues, and they can cause pernicious problems for your home. From peeling paint to rotted wood to those middle-of-winter ice issues, watershed flaws are difficult to address once winter sets in. Address them now.

Grading and Drainage

If water pools appears near your foundation during or after a rain, this is the time to address this potentially costly issue before the ground freezes and your foundation experiences cracking.

At Get Dwell, we know how to prepare a home for the coming cold. If you’d like a winter-weather assessment, or need specific pre-freeze maintenance, call us today.

The rush is on: You have until the end of the year before the home energy-improvement tax credit expires.

Doors, Storm Doors, Skylights, Windows

Time is running out as suppliers are trying to fulfill orders before the end of the year. Many homeowners are realizing that they could save up to $1,500 in energy-improvement dollars for upgrades made before New Year’s Eve. As the rush is on, many suppliers are worried they will not be able to deliver and install products before the year’s end. If you are considering a new door or window, now is the time to do the work as you can save one-third of the product purchase price as long as it’s purchased and installed before the end of the year. If you would like a free estimate and tax-credit estimator please let us know.

A typical replacement window cost can average  $300–$700 per window, for a tax credit earned of $100–$230 or more per window. Energy efficient doors average $125–$600 per door for a savings of $38–$200. If you are not installing them yourselves, the tax credit can certainly help pay for the labor involved. If you are replacing them yourself, make sure the products you purchase qualify for the tax credit.

There are many window and door companies offering a lot of great products but the one company that we feel stands out is Marvin Windows and Doors. Click here for a list of qualifying Marvin products. Locally you can find Marvin Products at the design center at Evanston Lumber.

Insulation

Attic insulation and air sealing typically gives you the biggest energy savings in our climate. In older attics the trick is to understand where and how to seal the house, then to add adequate insulation and ventilation. In newer homes the idea is to seal the unsealed areas (can lights, boxed ceilings, pipes, and chimneys) and to make sure proper ventilation has been added to eliminate mold growth. We estimate a full 20% of all new or renovated attic spaces we see contain mold due to a lack of proper ventilation.

Because of the tax credit — and the time of year — now is the ideal time to check your attic and see if it’s fully insulated and ventilated.

For these and other energy-saving ideas, give Get Dwell a call and let us see if we can help save you energy dollars and earn up to $1,500 in tax credits.

At Get Dwell, our business is built on referrals from satisfied clients, and we’re deeply appreciative of that fact. So we’ve introduced the 50/50 Referral Program to say thanks to you and welcome to your referrals.

It’s simple: Refer any new client to Get Dwell and upon starting their project we’ll give you — and them — a $50 credit.* There’s no limit on the number of referrals you can make. The 50/50 Referral Program is our way of saying how grateful we are for the trust and confidence of our clients. Thank you!

* Credit applies to jobs of $200 or more for new clients.

Heat. Humidity. If there are two words that sum up the summer of 2010, it’s those. After a relatively mild 2009, all of Chicagoland is being reminded that, through much of the summertime, the Windy City’s wind blows hot and sticky.

Ready for some relief? This month, Get Dwell presents some tips and projects that can help you beat the heat.

Change Ceiling Fan Directions

Can’t remember which direction your ceiling fans are supposed to turn in the summertime? It’s counter-clockwise – CC, or country club, a summertime clue to help you remember. Ceiling fans cool a room by four to six degrees, allowing you to raise the thermostat and save money. If you don’t have ceiling fans but have an outlet available, it only take about two hours to install a new fan.

Check Your Window A/C Units

Whether you do it yourself or hire a professional, installing a window air conditioning unit doesn’t take long. But installing it right is important. Take care that it’s secure. And if the weep holes and condensation system are not set-up correctly water can flow into your window sill and into your walls, causing extensive rot and mold issues.

Build a Shade Arbor

A backyard shade arbor provides cooler temperatures, an attractive yard feature, and privacy. They’re available in a variety of styles, and Get Dwell can design and build an arbor to meet any budget.

Install a Porch Swing or Hammock

On hot days, just a little swing can provide relief. A porch swing generally takes one to hours to install but it can make a world of difference in your comfort.

Fix Screens and Windows

When cool days arrive, make the most of them by throwing open the windows and turning off the A/C. If you have a window or screen that needs to be repaired, call Get Dwell or take screens and windows with broken glass to Millen Hardware in Wilmette.

August Summer Specials

Take 10% off any work (labor only*)  involving ceiling fans, A/C , shade arbors, porch swings/hammocks, windows and screens.

Plus, because we’re having fun, we’re continuing these summer specials:

• 10% off any project promoting art
• 10% of any outdoor project, outdoor furniture or gate work
• 10% off custom decks and other deck work
• 10% off any garage organization project

*Project must begin in August, 2010.

When you’re in the home repair and maintenance business, you look for certain things from your hardware supplier – quality products, great selection, sound advice.  Get Dwell finds all that, and a whole lot more, at Millen Hardware in Wilmette.

Although it’s been a local fixture since approximately 1908 (nobody’s exactly sure when it opened its doors), Millen isn’t so much of a throw-back as a throw-forward – a place that sets a standard for service and selection that’s light years ahead of many of their competitors.

“We have experienced people on staff,” says Doug Sanders, Millen’s owner since 1985. “We’re always happy to help homeowners or contractors get the best results from what they buy here.”

Sanders says the store’s commitment to buying American-made products whenever possible helps keep quality high. And he strives to stock items and offer services not widely available at big-box hardware stores.

“We have an in-store glass and screen-repair service,” Sanders says. “We maintain a big housewares section, including a large selection of lightbulbs. We try to stock items homeowners need, not just what sells the best.”

Millen also has a large e-commerce site featuring many items you’ll find in the store, and even some you won’t. It’s all part of a retail experience that exudes old-fashioned pride – in customer service, in the quality of what’s on the shelf and in the people they hire.

Get Dwell’s Darryl Rose sums up Millen Hardware this way:

“The guys in the red vests are all professionals, deep in knowledge and extremely helpful. They stand behind their products and make shopping there a great experience.”

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Stop by and see for yourself!

Millen Hardware
1219 Wilmette Avenue
Wilmette, IL 60091
(847) 251-3060

Open Weekdays 7:30 am – 6:30 pm
Sat 8 am – 5:30 pm
Sun 9:30 am – 4 pm

www.johnmillenhardware.com

Two specials we offered last month — savings on outdoor projects and work promoting art — recently yielded a crop of fun and interesting project for Get Dwell. We enjoyed them so much we wanted to share a few of them with you. These projects took advantage of  the 10% savings and we hope you bring us your fun art and outdoor projects too.

Art Effect

Get Dwell worked with local leather artists, Meg McGuinness and Casey Gunschel, who create belts, bags, as well as exquisitely tooled leather canvases that can be hung or used as decorative accents on furniture. To display those works in a recent gallery show, they asked Get Dwell to craft a welded internal structure that would allow the leatherwork to display flat, without folding over or warping. You can see the result in the accompanying photo.

Hen House

A Chicago resident who owns and operates a sustainable lawn care company decided to become more sustainable himself and hatched some chickens in his basement. And while the basement worked well for chicks it became clear they needed a proper coop as they grew bigger. Our client searched for coops online but found them prohibitively expensive, so he turned to Get Dwell for a less-costly alternative. We created a custom-designed coop that could be built for a fraction of the price of the online offering, and our client’s now-grown chickens have a roomy and comfortable home of their own.

Year-Round Gardening

A client approached us to rebuild an old, rotted and unused cold frame attached to her house — essentially a small, walk-in greenhouse that jutted out from the side of her home. These were once common structures found throughout this area that allow plants to be started earlier in the spring, and to survive longer into the fall and winter. The new-improved cold frame has resulted in a new hobby for our client, giving her a range of year-round gardening activities.

Have an outdoor project you’ve been thinking about? Want to build a small art studio? A new deck or outdoor structure? Through August, we’re extending two recent monthly specials, offering 10% off labor charges for any outdoor or art-related project. Call Get Dwell for more information.