Just a little something lovely to look at as we head to the end of the year. Happy Solstice (belated), Happy (Last Day of) Hanukkah, Merry Christmas, Happy Kwanzaa, and Happy New Year!
Home Projects for the Holidays
We tucked away this article a year ago “for future reference,” and here we are in the middle of the holiday season again. All these projects sound great, but it’s probably most realistic to pick just one or two. Even if you skip this list altogether, we hope you do get some downtime as we barrel through to the end of the year!
Deck the Halls III
This year was our third Annual Wreath Making event and our second at Woodstock Community Center. Despite losing several photos to photographer error (so blurry!), we have a few good shots. Many thanks to our talented friends — hope you’ll all join us again in a year’s time.
Ready!
Ready!
Ready!
Not so sure…
Gratitude and Your Brain
In this month’s letter, we referred to research by the Greater Good Science Center that shows how people who make a habit of gratitude also experience stronger immune systems and lower blood pressure; lower levels of negative emotions like loneliness and anxiety; and higher levels of positive emotions like joy, optimism, and compassion.
Here is a presentation from their Greater Good Gratitude Summit in which Dr. Christina M. Karns (a University of Oregon Research Associate) describes her study of the relationships among gratitude, social reasoning, decision-making, and the brain. There are a lot of interesting presentations on the center’s YouTube channel so, if the subject interests you, take some time to explore them.
Wherever you are spending your Thanksgiving this year, we hope it is enjoyable and relaxing!
New Tree Rules for Portland
As part of Portland’s Citywide Tree Policy Review and Regulatory Improvement Project, a new tree code will take effect on January 1, 2015 — that means new rules for tree preservation, tree planting, development in relation to existing trees, and the use and expiration of planting plans. For people planning large remodeling projects or new construction, one key change is the requirement of a permit to remove any tree with a diameter of 12 inches or larger. To help explain these changes, the Bureau of Development Services will be offering several classes targeting different audiences. There are two classes most appropriate for homeowners:
Tree permit requirements for non-development projects; of interest to homeowners, tree care professionals, and landscapers
Portland Building 1120 SW 5th Ave, Room C
Thursday, November 13th, 6 – 7 pm (that’s tomorrow evening!)
Thursday, November 20th , 12 – 1 pm
According to BDS, if you cannot make a training class, additional information is available at www.portlandoregon.gov/trees or by calling (503) 823-TREE.
Image: “Japanese maple″ by Rebecca Wilson. Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 (CC BY 2.0).
Happy Halloween!
Hey, let’s be careful out there.
Making Fall Leaves Work for You
Our Portland foliage is not quite at peak autumn color — in fact, as of today, The Weather Channel’s foliage map puts us squarely at “patchy” — but the deciduous leaves will all be on the ground soon enough. And then what? Houzz has some suggestions…
Prepping for Fall
Although it’s been plenty warm lately, you can tell by the light and the earlier sunsets that fall is truly on its way. This is a great time to pay attention to a seasonal checklist, like Martha Stewart’s Top Tips to Prep Your Home for Fall.
This brief window before the rainy season sets in for good is also a fine time to do a more thorough review of your home. This Old House has a very detailed guide, How to Give Your House a Yearly DIY Inspection, that takes you through the process step-by-step (including a link to a printable checklist).
Once you get any necessary updates out of the way, you’ll feel confident that you’re prepared to enjoy the changing season!
Countertop Roundup
With so many countertop options out there these days, it’s hard to know where to start. The folks at Remodelista put together a helpful piece Five Questions to Ask When Choosing Your Kitchen Countertops, which suggests you stop and consider the following:
- How will you use your countertops?
- How much maintenance can you handle?
- What are your kitchen requirements?
- What’s your budget?
- What materials speak to you?
It’s well worth reading the full piece, and here are a few more informative articles for your to-read list.
- Houzz, Your Guide to 15 Popular Kitchen Countertop Materials
- Houzz, Kitchen Countertop Materials: 5 More Great Alternatives to Granite
- Houzz, Ecofriendly Materials: Kitchen Countertops
- Remodelista, Butcher Block Countertops
- Remodelista, Concrete Countertops
- Remodelista, Corian Countertops (and the New Corian Look-alikes)
- Remodelista, Engineered Quartz Countertops
- Remodelista, Marble Countertops
- Remodelista, Soapstone Countertops
- Remodelista, Stainless Steel Countertops
- This Old House, All About Quartz Countertops
- This Old House, All About Stone Countertops
- This Old House, Engineered Quartz
- This Old House, Laminate Countertop Buying Guide
- This Old House, The Secret to Getting Great Kitchen Counters
Have questions about what countertop is right for your kitchen? Get in touch!
Happy at Home
This month’s letter to our clients and friends is all about happiness — how to improve our chances for achieving it and what benefits it brings to our lives — but since we work in residential design and construction, we’re equally interested in what makes people happy in their homes. We were, um, happy to learn that when Houzz.com led a survey of their users earlier this year, the findings indicate home improvement impacts happiness a great deal (once construction is finished, of course!).
HOMEmakers of Oregon LLC 