<div style="letter-spacing:normal!important;width:485px!important; padding:0 40px!important; font-family:Arial,sans-serif!important;"> <ul style="letter-spacing:normal!important;list-style:none!important;margin:0 0 30px!important;padding-left:0;float:left;width:485px;font-family:Arial,sans-serif!important;"> <li style="letter-spacing:normal!important;font-family:Arial,sans-serif!important;display:block;vertical-align:baseline!important;padding:30px 0!important; border-bottom:1px solid #ebf0f2!important; color:#777!important; font-size:12px!important; line-height:20px!important;float:left;width:485px;"> <div style="letter-spacing:normal!important;font-family:Arial,sans-serif!important;position:relative!important; float:left!important; width:100px!important; padding:0 12px 0 0!important;"> <a href="http://www.houselogic.com/articles/air-conditioning-equipment-repair-or-replace" style="letter-spacing:normal!important;font-family:Arial,sans-serif!important;color:#16a8d3!important; text-decoration:none!important;"> <img style="border:0 none;" src="http://c0263062.cdn.cloudfiles.rackspacecloud.com/content/images/sized/air-conditioner-outside-home-lennox_1x1_d79b04f6067d578cf96787914dc5d410_jpg_80x80_q85.jpg" alt="Lennox air conditioners outside house" title="air-conditioner-outside-home-lennox" /> </a> </div> <h3 style="letter-spacing:normal!important;font-family:Arial,sans-serif!important;float:left;width:373px;margin:0; 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float:left!important; width:100px!important; padding:0 12px 0 0!important;"> <a href="http://www.houselogic.com/articles/water-heaters-repair-or-replace" style="letter-spacing:normal!important;font-family:Arial,sans-serif!important;color:#16a8d3!important; text-decoration:none!important;"> <img style="border:0 none;" src="http://c0263062.cdn.cloudfiles.rackspacecloud.com/content/images/sized/hvac-water-heater-basement_1x1_1a3049e793914d6fcace87328d56638c_jpg_80x80_q85.jpg" alt="Water heater and HVAC in basement" title="water-heater-HVAC-in-basement-getty" /> </a> </div> <h3 style="letter-spacing:normal!important;font-family:Arial,sans-serif!important;float:left;width:373px;margin:0; font-size:16px!important; font-weight:bold!important;"><a style="color:#16a8d3!important; text-decoration:none!important;" href="http://www.houselogic.com/articles/water-heaters-repair-or-replace" target="_blank">Water Heaters: Repair or Replace? </a></h3> <p style="letter-spacing:normal!important;font-family:Arial,sans-serif!important;margin:0;float:left;width:373px;">When deciding whether to repair or replace a water heater, consider its age, the severity of the problem, and how much money a new energy-efficient unit will save. <a target="_blank" style="color:#16a8d3!important; text-decoration:none!important;" href="http://www.houselogic.com/articles/water-heaters-repair-or-replace">Read</a></p> <div style="clear:both;"></div> </li> <li style="letter-spacing:normal!important;font-family:Arial,sans-serif!important;display:block;vertical-align:baseline!important;padding:30px 0!important; border-bottom:1px solid #ebf0f2!important; color:#777!important; font-size:12px!important; line-height:20px!important;float:left;width:485px;"> <div style="letter-spacing:normal!important;font-family:Arial,sans-serif!important;position:relative!important; float:left!important; width:100px!important; padding:0 12px 0 0!important;"> <a href="http://www.houselogic.com/articles/when-to-repair-or-replace-large-appliances" style="letter-spacing:normal!important;font-family:Arial,sans-serif!important;color:#16a8d3!important; text-decoration:none!important;"> <img style="border:0 none;" src="http://c0263062.cdn.cloudfiles.rackspacecloud.com/content/images/sized/appliances-in-junk-yard-blue-sky_1x1_1dd0c58c98d77240ecca4318c2859933_jpg_80x80_q85.jpg" alt="household appliances in a junkyard" title="household-appliances-in-junk-yard-getty" /> </a> </div> <h3 style="letter-spacing:normal!important;font-family:Arial,sans-serif!important;float:left;width:373px;margin:0; font-size:16px!important; font-weight:bold!important;"><a style="color:#16a8d3!important; text-decoration:none!important;" href="http://www.houselogic.com/articles/when-to-repair-or-replace-large-appliances" target="_blank">When to Repair or Replace Large Appliances</a></h3> <p style="letter-spacing:normal!important;font-family:Arial,sans-serif!important;margin:0;float:left;width:373px;">When deciding to repair or replace appliances, consider age, repair cost, pricing, energy efficiency, and whether to modify your kitchen to accommodate a new unit. <a target="_blank" style="color:#16a8d3!important; text-decoration:none!important;" href="http://www.houselogic.com/articles/when-to-repair-or-replace-large-appliances">Read</a></p> <div style="clear:both;"></div> </li> </ul> <div style="float:left;width:485px;"> <p style="letter-spacing:normal!important;font-family:Arial,sans-serif!important;margin:0 0 12px!important; color:#000!important; font-size:12px!important;">Visit <a style="color:#16a8d3!important; text-decoration:none!important;" href="http://www.houselogic.com">houselogic.com</a> for more articles like this.</p> <p style="letter-spacing:normal!important;font-family:Arial,sans-serif!important;margin:0 0 12px!important; color:#000!important; font-size:11px!important;"> Copyright 2010 NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®</p> </div> </div>

I would like to discuss how any design style can be made more comfortable.  The Stamper residence is an example of a home that while done in a southwest contemporary style still feels comfortable and human in its scale and color.  This home was a collaboration of Carlson Homes, the designer and builder; Carlson Design Group's Ernesto Garcia and Interior Motives in Fountain Hills.

The owners had a spectacular view lot and they wanted the home to take advantage of the views and beautiful Arizona sky.  The ceilings are 17 feet high in the living room, family room and kitchen.  This was done to capture the outdoors through large windows facing out to the gorgeous view.  In order to make sure that the home felt cozy, the wall colors are warm yellows.  The chandelier in the living room is large and hung at a normal ceiling height.  This creates the feel of a lower ceiling.  However the owners still wanted to feel the soaring nature of the home, so the fireplaces go all the way to the ceiling and natural light floods in from the doors and clearestory windows. 

The kitchen features a double island, ideal for entertaining.  The kitchen cabinets were designed to hold your eye at normal height.  The wet bar was incoporated into the kitchen so it would not be obtrusive into any given space.  The opening in the kitchen at the wet bar allows people to view the symmetry of the spaces.

The dining room features a warm wood panel ceiling that creates a warm glow to any dinners that the owner may want.

A lot of people are wondering if they should remodel their home now or wait until things improve.  I think the resounding answer is do it now if you can and I will point to the following reasons.

1.  First and foremost, if you are thinking about remodeling, there is something with the house that you want to change and every day you wait is another day of putting up with something you don't like.  This is not making your life easier.  Your home should be a pleasant refuge from all of the other stuff in our life and when you enjoy your time there, it is amazing how much less stressful your life can be.  This may sound like a lot of hot air but it is true.  If the kitchen doesn't allow you to cook the way you like or the cabinets and counters are out of date and showing wear, it is not as much fun to be there as it could be.  And as we all know, the kitchen is the heart of the home.  Make it be that again, a fun place to meet with family and friends, a place that is light, interesting and practical.  The same thing is true for baths.  There are lots of new things to put in a bath that make the bathing (or showering) experience more fun.  Changing the design of a bath to fit your needs rather than the needs of the builder can make all the difference in the world.  Changes in televisions and other electrical gear mean that lots of us are not properly displaying or using that equipment.  It is time to hide the wiring and adapt the old TV niche to the new TV.

2.  Some things just wear out and it can be time to refresh them.  Flooring and paint are perfect examples of this.  That old stained carpet doesn't give you a lift, it can bring you down.  It may be time to repaint as well and as long as you are at it, think about using bolder colors.

3.  There is no better time than now to get this work done.  Pricing is competitive and you can get high quality work done on time.  But there are lots of things that need to be coordinated in a remodel project and you will want to make sure that the scope of work and the quality of materials to be used is thoroughly understood by the contractor and yourself.  This way, you can avoid unpleasant experiences during the job.