Don Delves had a grand idea of opening up the back of his North Shore Chicago house, drawing his classically landscaped back yard into the home. He built a deck across the back and sought replacement windows to bring the sunlight and yard into the back porch.

Oftentimes, we visit classic North Shore homes and help them plan how new windows can bring in light or keep out cold. We suggest styles and colors to match an existing home.

In the case of the Delves home, we worked with the homeowner to fit into his plan. We found a way to enhance the effect he wanted.

We suggested wooden replacement casement windows that accentuated the classic architecture of the home while still brightening the room with plenty of natural light. The windows open up effortlessly to draw in lots of air, a particularly stunning effect as the garden blooms throughout the summer.

At the Don’s request, we made sure the color scheme remained flexible. For an older home, wooden windows are often the best choice. We used primed wood, rather than a complete finish, so the homeowner could select a custom color.

Our flexibility in product and willingness to enhance an existing plan really improved upon an already beautiful space for the Delves family.

Just a few weeks ago, I wrote about how more people in the Chicago area are deciding to remodel their homes these days rather than sell them.

Now, this month, Chicago Magazine has published a feature called “Boost Your Home’s Value”, which addresses ways for home owners to do just that. The first step is having at least a rough idea of when you’d like to sell your home. From there, you can decide what you should remodel and what you should leave alone to get maximum value for your home.

The feature breaks it down into three general plans:

If you want to sell this summer

If you want to sell in a few years

If you want to stay for a decade-plus

Consider which category you might fall in. And remember—when energy efficiency is a priority, windows, doors, and siding absolutely must be insulated.

When looking to spruce up your home, a good place to start would be the focal point of the home; your entry door. Architect Lynn Hopkins of Fine Home Building writes, “it’s important for the entry door to be appropriate to the house style.” Whether you live in a colonial, ranch, Victorian or something else, make sure your entry door makes a statement. Your  home’s aesthetic and dollar value can appreciate greatly with new doors, windows, siding and other exterior improvements.

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Two articles caught my attention this past week. Both reinforce what I see daily as I meet homeowners. People are remodeling and rehabbing when they see that they can’t sell their homes.

Crain’s Chicago Business this week reports that the home remodelers are busy again. “Most expect their volume to be up 30 percent or better in 2012.” Low interest rates and a high inventory of unsold homes make it more attractive to stay put and make stand-out improvements to your home. Read more in the Crain’s article “Rehab for the housebound.”

One way to make a statement is to consider the focal point of the house: the entry door. Architect Lynn Hopkins, writing in FineHomebuilding, points out that, “it’s important for the entry door to be appropriate to the house style.”

Her article provides drawings of doors that are appropriate to each of four broad styles: colonial, Victorian, bungalow, and modern. Read more in “Enhance Style with the Right Entry Door.”

If you want additional ideas for how windows, doors, siding, and roofing can enhance the beauty, value, and comfort of your home, call McCann or fill in the Contact Us form on this page, top right.

McCann Window and Exteriors gave away an iPad 2 at the Arlington Home Show, February 24-27, in Arlington Heights, IL. Congratulations to Leo Cira!