RSS FeedArchive for March, 2010
Airoom team is walking for March of Dimes
Every day, thousands of babies are born too soon, too small and often very sick. Our team is walking in March for Babies because we want to do something about this. We’ll be marching on April 25th at Busse Woods in Elk Gove Village.
The mission of March of Dimes is to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth and infant mortality. Funds raised in March for Babies support research and programs that help moms have full-term pregnancies and babies begin healthy lives. And they will be used to bring comfort and information to families with a baby in newborn intensive care.
Choose the Best Countertop Material for Your Home and the Environment
Because of the beating countertops take over their lifetime, durability and stain resistance are key considerations.“The truth is that there is no such thing as a burn-proof, scratch-proof, stain-proof countertop material—green or conventional—no matter what some manufacturers will claim,” says designer Lydia Corser of Eco Interiors in Santa Cruz, CA. “The most important thing to realize is that nothing is foolproof.”
Read the full article here.
What is Airmen?
Airoom is a design/build firm whose services include everything from home additions to kitchens and baths and large scale remodeling. People would call us frequently over the years for handyman types of services. Although the company wanted to satisfy those calls for smaller projects, it was difficult to separate that type of work from our everyday business.
So after years of client inquiries, we’ve decided to create a division that specialized in smaller remodeling projects and home maintenance called Airmen. At first it was just a separate unit, but as more and more people demanded those services, it was necessary to turn it into a separate company. But here’s the good part, even though it’s different from Airoom, AIRMEN still has access to all the design, project management and financing resources. So we can support our clients with the best ideas and solutions for design, construction and funding in a much more streamlined system.
Q & A with remodeling expert Marty Meadow
Q: What are the remodeling trends right now in the western suburbs?
MM: What we’re seeing a lot of right now are a lot more simpler interior projects, like renovating a kitchen or bath, reorganizing floor plans or doing exterior renovation work. The additions we’re seeing people looking to add tend to be simpler things like sun rooms and family rooms and not the million dollar projects people were doing. People are taking a 25-year-old house (in inner-ring suburbs like Wilmette, Oak Park or Skokie) and bringing it up to modern standards now rather than larger projects.
To see the rest of the interview with Marty, click here.
What’s Cooking in Kitchen Design at the AD Home Show
Today marks the opening of the Architectural Digest Home Design Show, and tomorrow the beginning of the show’s Culinary Demonstrations sponsored by the renowned kitchen brand Poggenpohl. Since good design and good food ought to go hand-in-hand, here’s a round-up of some of the best exhibitors and their latest products, designed to make your kitchen and culinary experiences all the better.
click here for more information.
How to make a small kitchen work well for you
Sometimes there is no way to enlarge a kitchen. The constraints can be due to zoning requirements, the location of the kitchen within the home, or even budget. How, then, can you make your “cozy” kitchen more functional and feel larger even if you cannot increase the square footage?
Knocking down a wall can realy help to open up a cramped kitchen by both increasing the natural light in the space, as well as eliminating a barrier between the cook and his or her guests when entertaining Or, by removing part of a wall, and replacing it with a breakfast bar and glass upper cabinets, it can create more usable space as well as a more open and light feel.
If an island is necessary for prep work, consider a mobile island that can be neatly tucked away when not in use, or even a peninsula instead of an island.
Built-in shelves and gadgets can help to free up counter space, such as a wall-mounted cookbook holder, or a spice rack.
Removing soffits and replacing upper cabinets with a taller alternative which meet the ceiling can provide much needed storage space for those items not in use on a regular basis.
Details such as an open plate rack can serve as both a place for displaying beautiful serveware, as well as cleverly thought -out storage. 
No matter what your challanges are, with a little creativity and planning, te possibilities aer endless!
For more information, click here.
“…an addition completed on time and on budget…”
Airoom would like to thank the “H” family for taking the time to express ther satisfaction with the project recently completed at their home. We try our best in every phase of every project, and it feels great to know that our efforts have paid off:
Tom,
The Airoom team recently completed work on an addition to our home, and I just wanted to commend the team on a job well done. From the sales and design phase to the buildout and punch list phase, everything went smoothly. Bill was refreshing to work with during the sales and scoping process – the pricing was explained thoroughly and we felt that he was a partner in the process, instead of just a salesman. John did a great job of talking us through the detailed specs and plans, and he was very patient as we debated windows, doors, and finishes.
Scott did a terrific job as foreman, especially in light of the fact that my husband and I both work from home and were present during all phases of construction. He ensured the crew was as quiet and neat as possible, he checked in frequently to make sure things were going as planned, and made sure any issues were addressed. We have concerned neighbors who can get a bit unnerved at construction near their homes, but the overall professionalism of the team laid their fears to rest. The subs Airoom used were professional and did a great job. And we want to Heather for ensuring that the lines of communication remained open through her follow up calls.
The overall result was an addition completed on time and on budget – very important as we are expecting a baby next month.
Having “lived through” previous remodeling and renovation projects with other builders, I can tell you with confidence that the service, professionalism, timeliness and quality we enjoyed with the Airoom project was very much appreciated.
Regards,
Gina
Architectural Exhibit at the Art Institute
This exhibition concentrates on a house designed in 1892 by one of the most vigorous designers in this new mode, Charles Follen McKim of the New York firm McKim, Mead, and White, who was well known for his refined and modern adaptations of historical styles. McKim designed this large Chicago residence for Bryan Lathrop, a prosperous real estate developer, and the plan remains one of the most complete examples of the Georgian Revival style—an American fusion of early Colonial and 18th-century British models. The presentation of exquisite drawings of the Lathrop House interior and façade demonstrates a new position of stylistic rigor in the late 19th-century “Battle of the Styles.”
This display is the first installment of a three-part exhibition exploring different architectural responses to the problem of style in American architecture.
for more information, click here.
Boost you home’s curb appeal with Elevations
So what exactly is “Curb Appeal?” According to Michael Klein, CEO of Elevations, it’s one of the key things that sets his company apart. “We make tired exteriors beautiful again. Our designers view each home holistically, and provide customers with architectural options that drastically impact the visual appearance of the home. At Elevations, an exterior renovation isn’t just a project. It’s an opportunity to enhance the design and value of a home. We take old, dated, or non-descript homes and turn them into timeless properties with exceptional street presence.”
Click here to see the full story
Should I replace my master bath with a shower?
In recent decades, the trend has been to have a luxurious jetted tub or a soaking tub in the master suite. But in this day and age, so many homeowners are busy with work, family, and other obligations that there isn’t time for a long soak at the end of a hard day. In light of our busy lives, the shower has come back into focus.
Large walk-in showers with bench seating, steam showers, multiple jets, and even entertainment technology have become the new way to incorporate a bit of relaxation into the master bath. These showers can be enjoyed daily without taking any extra time out of a busy schedule.
