As the much-anticipated annual Builders’ Show opens its doors in just a couple short days, we’ve got our schedule filled with people to see, new products to admire and tweet-ups in which to partake.

A few brands to watch out for:

• Feeney: Proving that cable rails provide great design in addition to structure, Feeney will showcase its wide offering of custom cables, rails and hardware for commercial and residential applications.
• Masonite: Want to experience “Art in Doors”? Stop by Masonite’s booth at IBS to check out how doors are so much more than mere portals. The company’s new West End collection appeals to those with great design taste who seek modernity.
• Amerec: Anyone looking to add some luxury to their bathroom should check out Amerec’s booth at IBS, where the brand’s new T100 Touch Control panel will surely be the center of attention. The touch screen panel provides easy access to and control of steam and time settings.
• Gerber Plumbing Fixtures: Celebrating its 80^th year, Gerber will feature the Viper 1.28 high efficiency toilet, which provides exceptional performance paired with smart water savings, among the full line of vitreous china and brass offerings.
• Nuheat: Though the Orlando weather may not call for it, surely heated floors are irresistible. Nuheat develops custom and luxurious electric floor heating systems that provide comfort through virtually any flooring material.
• Danver: Ever expanding its product offering for the outdoor living trend, Danver will have on display EcoSmart outdoor fireplaces in addition to the stainless steel cabinetry they’re known for.
• Viance: Introducing its 2012 “Fish-More” promotion, Viance helps contractors gain more business by recommending the brand Ecolife for deck building.
• The Fortress Company: Fortress fence and railing products not only create safe surroundings, but contribute to the beautification of any property.

The K&A team will attend IBS this week in Orlando and would love to see you. If you’re attending and would like to participate in a short meet-up, (we could even feature your brand on our YouTube channel)… let us know here!

The concept of “home for life” has become an increasingly prevalent trend for the home building industry. Homeowners have redefined their idea of a “dream home” and have made it clear they’re staying put… literally. In fact, 84% of the respondents in a Hanley Wood survey said they would like to remain in their current homes through retirement. Instead of moving to a larger home, homeowners are taking matters into their own hands by redefining the quality of an existing space. This presents a unique and profitable opportunity for remodeling companies to take advantage of; the key is to recognize exactly where.

Jeff Shea, owner of The Siding Doctor, has been involved with the home building industry for the past 30 years and has noticed the upgrades in which homeowners place value.

“Homeowners today are working their way through the house with small high-end upgrades like windows and doors, and installing other items to reduce energy use,” says Shea. “They are trying to avoid debt. The available resources for homeowners to upgrade are much more limited than they were ten years ago.”

This presents a challenge for remodelers looking to give business a boost. It is important for businesses to think of their consumer’s needs and where the home is most likely to expand. In the past decade alone, the U.S. census has reported an increase of multigenerational family homes by 30 percent. As a result, families are remodeling not only to upgrade, but to increase the overall comfort level within a home. Homeowners, therefore, redefine the value of their space in places like the basement and the outdoors.

To begin with, the most commonly thought-of area for remodeling would be the basement. Most homeowners in the past saw this area as a “work-in-progress” type of space. Now basements are being turned into budget-conscious “apartment style” living spaces as a way to adapt to their new multigenerational family demands.  With the economy still in recovery, homeowners are looking for efficient remodeling that doesn’t require undertaking a major project.

“There is a growing market of do-it-yourselfers in search of practical improvements that add real value,” said Jonathan Zublena, product manager at Sauder Woodworking. “Sauder anticipates that many home improvements will include upgrading existing ceiling systems as a means to improve the overall value perception of a room or a home.”

Another option for changing the perception of a home is to transform an outdoor space into an outdoor living room. Homeowners have discovered that their backyard is more than just an area for kids; it is an area for entertaining as well. As a result, remodelers are receiving more requests from homeowners for direction on creating outdoor kitchens, entertainment areas and fire pits. Admittedly, in terms of time and resources, outdoor kitchen construction is the most demanding aspect of the outside space; however, an outdoor kitchen traditionally garners the largest return on investment. Companies like Danver offer a one-stop shop of appliances and products equipped to handle the outdoor conditions from stainless steel cabinetry to pizza ovens, outdoor heaters, insect systems, cocktail stations and more.

Most – if not all – home renovations today occur to achieve one goal: to increase the quality of living in a house as homeowners readjust for long-term occupancy. Home and building product manufacturers and remodelers alike understand this critical pivot in home trends and have thus far adapted quite effortlessly.

We’ve been talking a lot lately about the future of smart homes that give consumers the ability to control all of their home’s systems from their mobile devices. Networking all your systems together into a central control system makes a house more energy efficient because the systems communicate with one another to avoid using energy when it is unnecessary. But now there is a study out that shows these systems also makes homeowners more inclined to actually use their energy saving features.

Programmable thermostats have been around for some time, but surveys have shown that only about 10 percent of consumers use the programming features to automatically adjust temperatures during certain parts of the day. However, consumers who have a Wi-Fi enabled thermostat – allowing control of the thermostat from any PC or mobile device – used the programming features of the thermostat 85 percent of the time. EnergyHub, the maker of the Wi-Fi thermostat used in the study, attributes the high usage rates to the interface of the thermostat’s Wi-Fi access.

“We’re not changing the way the thermostat works. We’re getting it to do what it was designed to do 30 years ago,” EnergyHub CEO Seth Frader-Thompson said. “An easier interface is a huge part of it.”

By taking the same technology used today, integrating it with the devices consumers use most often, and giving it an easier-to-use interface, consumers are more inclined to take advantage of energy-saving features. Perhaps this is really what homes and people need today. They don’t need new technology… they need something to make the existing technology easier to use. If the technology were easier to use, perhaps it would be used more often, making us all more efficient.

A few months ago I outlined what I think the home of the future will look like. Now it looks like that vision is one step closer to being a reality for all of us. Lowe’s is preparing to introduce home automation kits priced for the mass market. Using AlertMe’s cloud based Iris system and home networking equipment, consumers will be able to access and control their home’s security, energy and appliances from their computers and mobile devices. This system can be self-installed and will help home owners conserve energy and money through greater control over their home’s systems.

You can read all the details about the system here.

As the economy still looks to recover from the recession and the housing market continues to be deflated, more and more families are looking to save money by living in non-traditional extended family units. In the past decade alone, the U.S. census has reported a rise in multigenerational families by upwards of 30%. Culturally, in the U.S., families have stuck to the typical nuclear family style residence of parents and children. However, times are changing and many family homes now not only consist of the nuclear unit, but grandparents, in-laws, and cousins as well. Baby boomers, now comprising  30% of the U.S. population, now move in with their children to save money. Boomerang children, or college graduates that move back home with their parents, are an increasing demographic of the U.S. population.

Families have opportunities to save money living under one roof in many ways. Firstly, more adults mean more income to support mortgage payments and other household related bills. Secondly, elder relatives act as a sort of “built-in-babysitter” for the family, saving cost on childcare. Thus, the extended family housing is unique in that it is a growing sector in an otherwise depressed market. Naturally, builders and contractors have flocked to this niche industry, offering unique features such as second master bedrooms or additional kitchens. While duplexes and granny flats have a long history in American architectural style, the “two-homes-in-one” model is novel and attracts new buyers as well as builders. Look to see more homes built in this style in the New Year.

While this adjusted home building style may be new, there is nothing new about extended family living. Multigenerational living isn’t just a fad to be forgotten in a few short years time. Americans may merely be adapting to what other cultures have been practicing for centuries. In many parts of Latin America, Africa, and India it is the norm to live with many other members of your family. The old adage, “it takes a village to raise a child”, wasn’t invented purely on thought alone. Essentially, that is what multigenerational living is, a small community unit. Broken down even further, the Hispanic and American sectors of the U.S. population see twice the number as whites living in multigenerational residences. This is powerful information for builders, contractors, and suppliers of building materials. The possibilities for growth in this niche market are endless!

Earlier this year, Google introduced Google Wallet, a revolutionary way to pay for items using Near Field Communication (NFC) to turn your smartphone into your wallet. But Google’s not the only one turning smartphones into something more powerful.

Blackberry announced that starting in 2012 several of its phones will be equipped with NFC technology similar to that used by doors that are unlocked by tapping cards to a card reader.

Image source: Geek.com

So instead of using a card to get into your apartment building or office, you’ll just need your smartphone. Blackberry says this will create an extra layer of security by allowing users to set a PIN on their phone that must be entered after the door has “scanned” their device. Preventing thieves from being able to access your home by stealing your card, they would now have to figure out your PIN, too.

There’s no word yet on whether other phone manufacturers will start adding similar features to future phone models, but with NFC technology already being explored by other manufacturers (again, think Google Wallet), it seems to be a logical progression of events. This could have major implications for both door and door lock manufacturers and security companies. If home security via smartphone is the way of the future, doors that come standard with this technology and integrate into the home’s security system could be a very real possibility. And why stop at the front door? Could we see security system keypads replaced by an NFC receiver? Or perhaps a security system that detects when an NFC-enabled device goes out of a home’s range and automatically arms the system? Smartphones already touch many parts of our lives, and soon they will change the way we think about home security.

With what looks like another harsh winter upon us, homeowners and apartment dwellers alike are pondering ways to winterize their homes while also saving money. Unless living in a warmer area such as parts of California or Florida, most will likely see at least some snow this winter with temperatures lower than they’ve ever been. There are, however, plenty of ways to keep your place warm this season.

One of the easiest ways to save money during winter is to use an energy efficient space heater. Today’s heaters are smart with thermostatic remote controls, meaning that they sense the ambient temperature and can heat the room accordingly. Most electrical space heaters convert 100% of electricity that they consume into heat, which is good for your wallet. Use one where you’re seated or a few around the house to manage which rooms need the most heat.

The best thing you can do for your power bill is to install a high-tech programmable thermostat to make sure you’re heating your place at the right times. These cut down your power bill significantly allowing users to program an entire week’s temperatures. You can even have a separate program for the weekend.

Most homes and apartments lose heat through windows and doors. Applying window wrap to the windows, although not attractive, will keep the heat inside. This works especially well in older homes. For installation, most recommend double-sided tape and a hairdryer to get all of the wrinkles out, making the wrap almost invisible. New weather stripping for doors can often fix the problem of warping and pulling away from the door frame. If it’s too damaged, however, a new door may be in your future (bonus: upgraded curb appeal!).

What are ways you’re saving heat and money this winter?

Are home improvement projects ever easy? Rarely. Lowe’s new online initiative promises to simplify those difficult trips to the hardware store. An online tool that allows users to create and maintain a home profile, MyLowe’s stores much more than basic information. From room dimensions, product assignments and wish lists to recent purchases such as interior-paint formulas and flooring, MyLowe’s promises easy access to home improvement.

Beyond basic purchase history, the site also keeps track of warranty information, opting for electronic versions of manuals and paperwork instead of paper versions, which often get lost in boxes and filing cabinets. Features still to come include tools for room renovations, online sharing and subscription purchases of routinely needed accessories such as water and air filters… eliminating questions like, “When did we last change this?” Lowe’s also plans to make a mobile application so users can access their information straight from their phones while shopping.

Will MyLowe’s live up to its claim to revolutionize, customize and simplify home improvement? It’s hard to tell, but combined with great deals and products that have done well in the market place (such as Valspar), paired with a promise to constantly improve the system, Lowe’s appears to be on the right track.

When it comes to green building, it’s not all about new construction. The topic of green construction is popping up in unexpected places, including greening a historic school – a challenge that many wouldn’t attempt. The truth is that making updates to buildings made of brick and brownstone have far more impact on our total footprint than new construction. And these updates won’t compromise the historic character and integrity of older buildings. What is there to lose?

Scot Horst of the U.S. Green Building Council pointed out that energy saved by improving the performance of our existing building stock by just one percent would equal the savings that would be achieved if all new buildings constructed in the U.S. during a given year were “netzero.” Others agree, including the National Trust for Historic Preservation. They believe that energy efficiency in older buildings can be improved by far more than one percent by tightening exterior envelopes, restoring original passive design features and adding modern improvements. By adding these improvements, they believe that older structures can meet or exceed the highest standards for energy performance and sustainable design. Surprisingly, they say they can do it at a reasonable cost.

The National Trust for Historic Preservation plans to demonstrate how to make improvements to older buildings through work on a property recently donated in Denver. The Emerson School is a two-story masonry structure built in 1885. Like many historic buildings, it needs a lot of help. Spending $2.1 million in hard building costs like installing a geothermal HVAC system, repairing original wood windows, and replacing inefficient light fixtures, they plan to convert the Emerson School to a center for historic preservation groups and other nonprofits. They also plan to open up the interior to restore passive ventilation and natural lighting schemes lost over time.

As a result of these planned improvements, energy models suggest that energy consumption at the Emerson School should be more than 40 percent below the ASHRAE 90.1 baseline. Ultimately, the National Trust for Historic Preservation would like to reduce energy use even more and have agreed to target the “netzero” resource consumption model at the Emerson School by 2030.

The good news is that many can learn and model their own work after this project. The Emerson School is similar to thousands of other historic schools and institutional buildings found across the United States: timber-frame construction, thick masonry walls, large windows and high ceilings.

To learn more about the National Trust for Historic Preservation and how it will reach its goals for the Emerson School, click here.

Our tour of homes of the future doesn’t stop quite yet… let’s have a recap of what we’ve seen so far.

• Our first futuristic home is eco-friendly and is displayed at the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago. If you recall, this home is incredibly green and sustainable, not to mention pretty cool!
• Our second futuristic home is not meant to sail you across the deep sea although it may look that way!  This home, created by the Earthship World Headquarters, is built with recycled and natural materials.
• Our third futuristic home is the SmartHome Cleveland which can be seen at The Cleveland Museum of Natural History.  It is energy efficient, and only 15 exist in the U.S.
• Our fourth futuristic home brings a whole new meaning to home security!  This home can actually close up into a block of concrete and keep away any potential harm.

Now that we’ve taken a look back at all of our previous homes of the future, what’s next?  CNBC gives us a peak at some futuristic homes that may boggle your mind.  The Komb House, built by Karim Rashid, was designed to be more environmentally friendly while using the latest technologies. This funky futuristic home includes energy efficient appliances, solar panels that heat water, and LED lighting.  It can also be taken apart because it’s made from metal, wood, and glass materials.  Don’t worry, this home can be reassembled at any time!

Looking even further into the future, we have the AirDrop house created by Andrew Maynard Architects.  With all of the natural disasters that have occurred throughout the world, the idea of the AirDrop house is truly enlightening.  This home provides shelter in areas being affected by flooding.  The home is dropped into the flooded area where it then begins to soak up water.  As it’s soaking up the water, it actually grows into a full functioning home.  This may all seem unrealistic, but keep your eyes peeled… you never know what the future may bring!