In May, the editors of Make it Better asked for their readers’ feedback in 101 categories: best coffee shops, children’s photographers, running stores—from necessities to luxuries. Over the following six weeks, readers sent in their nominations via Facebook, Twitter, email and website comments. Their final selections were based on the popularity of the category and passion of the comments. They enjoyed reading anecdotes about superior customer service, cute waiters and hardware stores that have served communities for three generations.

Get Dwell is honored to have been selected as Best Handyman of 2011. We thank all of our wonderful, loyal customers for their belief in us!

View the entire online version of Best of 2011 North Shore here

Warm weather turns our thoughts to the outside areas of our home. Lazy summer days and special evening meals on the deck can be a big part of a memorable summer. Enjoy the summer more with a deck specifically designed to suit the needs of your family. Custom deck design varies depending upon obstacles, conditions, traffic patterns and use. Explore the range of different materials, colors and personalities to create your one-of-a-kind outdoor living area.

Schedule a consultation today!

One week only: Offer expires May 5, 2011

How a National Register Historic District homeowner used Get Dwell to create a deck for all seasons

For each basement repair or refinishing project

With proper installation, mold resistant drywall is ideal for moisture-prone interior walls, in areas such as basements. These non-paper-faced drywall panels can help prevent mold. Contact us today to schedule an estimate for your project.

Offer Expires: April 29, 2011

Molds have the potential to cause health problems.
Research on mold and health effects is ongoing. The EPA states that molds produce allergens, irritants, and in some cases, potentially toxic substances. Inhaling or touching mold or mold spores may cause allergic reactions in sensitive individuals. Allergic reactions to mold are common. Molds can also cause asthma attacks in people with asthma who are allergic to mold. Symptoms other than the allergic and irritant types are not commonly reported as a result of inhaling mold.

Get Dwell is featured in this article because of the company’s unsurpassed customer satisfaction, steady growth during a tough economy and an inventive, creative approach new to the industry.

Read the article here

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!

Avani (pronounced Avni) is a passionate woman; passionate for beautiful old homes, stunning interior design and the importance of being a responsible, energy conscious homeowner. She has a certain wise warmth about her, a timeless vibe that lends itself well to historic preservation and restoration of the unique older homes so common here in the Chicago area. Her name, Avani, is a Sanskrit term meaning something very close to “Mother Earth.”

“I am a mother,” she chuckles, “It’s what is most important to me. But homes are my passion.

“Over time, working with so many homes – including five of my own — you learn a lot. What to keep and what just doesn’t work.” As a responsible home renovator, she has also learned how being green can best influence her designs. “I want to make these homes as energy efficient as my clients’ budgets and capabilities allow. I seek to bring these old houses back to life; to make them feel like homes. Even for my new construction clients I always think antique or vintage elements in the design give their homes a more authentic feel.”

“I’ve always re-used things.” says Mehta. On one project when she noticed the cedar roof sheathing was in panels, it ended up as an attic floor. She points to an elegant eighteenth century wooden chair, and invites us to look at the cushions. They’re stunning; done in a luxurious fabric, rich and laden with magnificent, muted colors. With a smile, she says, “I had the cushions on this chair upholstered in an antique drapery panel I saved from a previous house. Some things you just can’t throw away.

“I am Indian,” she adds. “We love color!”

She had just such an idea for a client in River Forest. She envisioned a surround mantle for the fireplace made from the 6” x 9” Douglas Fir timbers she had salvaged from her latest house renovation. And that’s when she called Get Dwell.

Project Manager Chris Goodnight tells the story: “Avani told us what she had in mind, and asked if we could take a look at the timbers to see if her idea was even possible. My goodness — when I saw the wood I got really excited. It was old growth Douglas Fir with a density — a richness in the grain — that’s just unavailable in what you can buy today. So I told her, ‘Yes. This is possible.’

“First I inspected the timbers to see what we had — sometimes there’s rot inside from when it was still a tree. Once we determined the amount of useable wood we had to work with, we got down to the really fun part; making Avani’s bold design work, figuring out the best way to create a the look she wanted while making sure the piece – it’s a weighty, free-floating design — would be structurally sound. After removing every nail, screw and piece of embedded metal — and some of those nails were handmade pig iron — I cut the timber into 4” x 5″ and 4” x 2″ planks. Once all the planks were milled, mitered, fit and assembled, I brought out the metal saw horses and a large torch to raise the grain, giving the piece an aged appearance, and bringing out the rich, earthy brown color Avani wanted.

“Bringing these old timbers back to life — in this case, back to a look that would normally take 150 years to achieve — is what it’s all about… and it’s a lot of fun.”

Avani Mehta is not just crazy about green design, she’s proving to be certifiable! Her own home is expected to reach silver status in Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design (LEED), an internationally recognized green building certification program. She’s been featured in This Old House and has a long track record of exceptional projects and excellent relationships throughout the region. “I’m blessed to have built a business doing what I love,” says Mehta. “I have a large commercial client — well large for me — that I have had for years. But the mainstay of my business, and the part of it I love the best, has always been the home.” Avani can be reached via email or at 847-436-0345.

In over 20% of the new or newly remodeled attic spaces we inspect, we find mold. The vast majority of these homeowners didn’t realize they had a mold issue. Mold in attics is usually the result of moisture-filled warm air finding a way into the attic space before it can be effectively ventilated out. If you suspect that this may be the case in your attic, call a professional. Get Dwell would be happy to give you a free consultation.

Spigot Vigilance!

“Frost-free” hose bibs (spigots) do not require an interior shut-off valve to be turned off in the cold weather; but please beware that if you have not removed the hoses, sprinklers or irrigation devices that are hooked up to them, you may be courting trouble. Every year, clients wonder why their maintenance free or “frost-free” hose bib has sprung a leak; typically, it’s because the hose is still hooked up allowing the water to be trapped. Once that trapped water freezes it needs to expand somewhere and unfortunately for many homeowners that expansion may mean a leak. So if you haven’t done so already, be sure to take care of this as soon as possible. If you have a leak already, it’s typically the O-rings that have failed. Replacement O-rings and complete “frost-free” hose bibs can be found at your local hardware store. On the North Shore we recommend Millen’s, where you’ll always find someone knowledgeable to help you.

Avoid Ice Damming

Ice dams can be nightmares, potentially causing extensive water damage. An ice dam is caused by the freezing and thawing process of snow and ice. Ice forms, causing the melting water behind it to build up, backing up under roof materials and leaking into the house below. Causes range from the unplanned consequences of complex roof designs to inadequate insulation; from incomplete air sealing to lack of proper ventilation. Sometimes it can come from an incorrectly installed recessed light or bathroom fan. So examine your roof and gutters when it snows. Is there excessive ice at the gutter line, are there large and numerous icicles or build up in the valleys? Is the snow melted from the peak of your roof but not from the lower portions? All these can be signs of a potential ice dam and may deserve a closer look.

Look for Weatherization Opportunities

Are there areas of your home that are uncomfortable because of cold or drafts? Can you feel a breeze around doors or windows or other problem areas like outlet/light fixtures? Is your heat source generating heat properly? The cold temperatures make it a great time to assess your home’s uncomfortable and energy loss areas. If you need help winterizing problem areas of your house, call Get Dwell. We can make your home more comfortable while saving you money. If you want a complete and accurate assessment of your entire home consider a home energy audit from the Green Dream Group. Their professional assessment is invaluable in ensuring that you are doing everything you can to be as comfortable and as energy efficient as possible.

LED vs. regular incandescent bulbs? One of our clients used an energy meter to measure the 150 bulb colored light strand that they normally used in their home. The verdict?  A staggering 1050 watts! With the new LED bulbs, a 150 bulb colored light strand measured only 15 watts.

Today’s LED bulbs come in “warm white” if you prefer the more traditional look. The colored and cool white bulbs are vibrant, and the shapes and sizes are much more varied than regular incandescent lights. Plus, you can string many more strands together since the wattage is less. Please note: be aware that Lights made in China and other foreign countries should be avoided because there are no restrictions against the use of lead in consumer products. Lights that are manufactured in the United States are likely to contain smaller amounts of lead.

If you have any concerns about how the various lights will look, stop by your local retailer.  On the North Shore, Millen Hardware has all the lights displayed so you can look before you buy. Or, give Get Dwell a call and we would be happy to help you with your lighting design.

A Note on Recycling: Be kind to the environment!  Recycle your unwanted holiday light strands rather than discarding them in a trash bin destined for landfill.  More and more municipalities are doing their part. Beginning the first week in December, there will be a holiday light recycling bin at the Wilmette Public Works Dept site, and another one at the Wilmette Village Hall.

$1,500 Tax Credit ends on December 31st!

There is still time to add insulation to your home and receive 1/3 back in a federal tax credit. However, the window to purchase and install qualifying doors, windows and skylights is closing fast.  Take note: if you are interested in having 1/3 of your purchase price of these items given back to you — you will need to act now. It looks like there will not be a better time to add insulation.

Gutters, Gutters, Gutters

Keep in mind that if your gutters are not clean before the leaves fall, you may be headed for some water trouble as fall storms roll in. Now is the time to get your gutters, downspouts and external watershed system analyzed before fall thunderstorms lead to sudden water events that can cause serious problems.

In the past, Get Dwell was hesitant to recommend any gutter guards, which are designed to keep leaves and other natural debris out of gutters, primarily because our clients have had mixed results. The most significant drawback is that during a large rain, water can glide or shed over some guards. This can lead to flooded window wells, basement flooding and water against the foundation, among other things. But for the last three years we have been analyzing a product called Gutter Stuff, which has been installed in some of our clients’ gutters. During this time we have received no client complaints and a few accolades from folks who have used other products in the past. Gutter Stuff is easy and quick to install and comes with a five-year warranty.  It is available locally at Millen Hardware in Wilmette.

Ladder Safety

Some 222,000 people end up in the emergency room every year due to ladder-related injuries.

“The number of emergency room visits from ladder-related injuries totals more than those for lawn mowers and home workshop saws combined,” warns John Drengenberg, Manager of Consumer Affairs at Underwriters Laboratories Inc., Northbrook, IL, a not-for-profit product safety testing organization.

At Get Dwell, we see this kind of injury firsthand every year. The fact is, once you reach the age of 35 to 40 you increase your chances of a ladder injury or fatality. As we age, our core strength diminishes, our sense of balance is not what it used to be, our reaction times slow and a sense of vertigo is more likely. It can be a deadly combination. Please be careful out there and if you have any doubts about your capabilities, please leave the gutter cleaning or other outside ladder work to professionals.

Storm Windows – a Realization!

Finally — you don’t have to take storm windows on and off every year, thanks to an ingenious product from SpencerWorks. It provides the look of traditional storms but has a hidden screen, which is opened in the warmer weather. This product is perfect for homeowners who don’t like the look of triple-track windows on their exterior. Call us or contact SpencerWorks for more information on this beautiful, functional and money-saving storm window.

Keep Your Basement Dry

Some basements need a professional waterproofing company, like Permaseal, to stay dry. Their patented technologies, specialized tools and professionalism make them a great choice for our clients with basements that need that kind of protection.

For others, you need to understand the basics of how and why a basement floods and what you can do about it. In order to keep your basement dry, it’s important to do the following:

• Check all areas where the foundation wall has been compromised — window well, stairs below grade are excellent areas to start. Make sure those areas and drains are clear and protected. We recommend specialized domed drain covers on these drains because we have been called to more than one flooded basement where an errant grocery bag has covered the drain, only to cause catastrophic flooding.
• Make sure there is an adequate back-up system for your home. That may involve a back-up sump pump or in-home generator.
• Make sure the grading is appropriate and water will not flow over the foundation wall or window well.
• Check that gutters are pitched correctly, that gutter seams have not failed and that downspouts are not clogged.

If your watershed system drains run underground, they will need to be maintained periodically. It’s not a question of IF they will fail … it’s a question of WHEN.

November Specials:

$25 off weatherization projects

$30 off gutter cleaning

$25 off Gutter Stuff installation

$100 off storm window replacement projects

$50 off holiday lighting design and installation

This month recommend a friend and we will donate $50 to Habitat For Humanity (on projects over $200)

Home Is Where The Hearth Is

It was Frank Lloyd Wright who observed, “The hearth is the psychological center of the home.” We have helped many clients transform the look and usefulness of their fireplace.  One client was captivated by a mantle she found at a flea market and she just knew it would be perfect for her home. A custom fit was needed. Our expert craftsman made the mantle look like it had been there forever, and it gave the entire room a fresh, new and striking look. Another client gave us drawings to fabricate a mantle out of old douglas fir beams that came out of her house during a recent remodel. We will be fabricating the mantle and incorporating a beautiful tile insert which the family will be enjoying before the holidays.

Kids Room By Day … Man Cave After Dark

Craving your own special place of refuge?  Get Dwell’s staff can work with you to transform even the most unique opportunities into your perfect dream space. One client had an 1870′s home with an old horse stable that was being used as a garage.  We helped transform the space into a kids’ room by day and man cave at night – not only the perfect “mantuary” retreat, but also a great place for overnight guests to stay.

Enliven Your Space With An Entertainment System

We all have busy lives.  Home theatres and media rooms can help us relax by providing an experience so enveloping and mesmerizing that we are forced to slow down and take notice.  Well planned, a home theatre or media room can provide experiences so interesting and exciting that we can make a refreshing escape from the cares of the day.  And there is more than one way to achieve this result.

The Big Picture Home Theatre Company located on the North Shore specializes in audio/video system design and installation, and they have worked successfully with many Get Dwell clients to transform their interior spaces.  Here are some ideas from the experts at The Big Picture about bringing A/V into your environment:

Dedicated Rooms. The Big Picture can design and install a private screening room where movies come alive with the immersive sights and sounds the director intended; or a media room, equally suited to movies, sports and video games, with an immediacy that takes you into the heart of the action. Its staff is expert not only at identifying the proper audio and video equipment for these spaces, but also in room design and execution, including acoustics, soundproofing, lighting, seating and cabinetry, so that all of the room’s elements work together for an extraordinary experience.

Living Spaces. Family rooms, living rooms, bedrooms and home offices can be wonderful places to enjoy your favorite movies and music. But no one wants those spaces to be dominated by audio/video equipment. The Big Picture is expert at integrating home entertainment with living spaces, providing products that blend aesthetically with the surroundings or disappear entirely: living rooms where the music speakers look like the walls themselves; family rooms where the television disappears behind a painting; and master bedrooms where all electronic gear is neatly hidden away. The company specializes in systems that are high in performance, low in visibility.

For more information about enhancing your interior spaces, give Get Dwell a call today.

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.