PR May 2006

The most successful people I know in business and life are continuously learning. As leaders, when any of us stops learning and growing, so will our business.

Professional Remodeler Editor in Chief Michael Morris responds to important questions received from readers.

Here are the five ingredients of an energy- and water-efficient kitchen, no matter its layout, size or amenities. They are all easy to find and install.

Whether a remodeler adheres strictly to the industry's tenets or picks and chooses which remodeling rules to follow is a matter of personal prerogative. The following remodelers stick to the rules of remodeling most of the time; however, they don't hesitate to bend the occasional tenet if doing so benefits their companies.

Housing-oriented charities such as Habitat for Humanity served as the inspiration for John Gonsalves who founded Homes for Our Troops,  which modifies homes for injured servicemen and servicewomen.

The focal point of the master suite is the window wall, which celebrates the beauty, imagination and range of variety within core, basic shapes.

Back in 2000, clients of Classic Homeworks, the Denver residential remodeling company Rick Pratt founded, were not too excited about green remodeling. Yet he had always considered himself an environmentalist and wanted to introduce energy-saving, environmentally friendly designs and products to his business.

More often than not, outdoor living space will include an open-air kitchen complete with top-of-the-line appliances and high-end finishes designed to be both functional and beautiful.

Materials such as glass, wire and engineered composite products are winning over traditional wood offerings in railings and balusters. Consumers are interested in the new products with an eye toward durability and design.

Variation in climate and conditions, lot size and zoning restrictions make it difficult to normalize decking trends; however, one driving force in all markets is maintenance.