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There are so many good reasons to remodel your basement -- more usable room, additional privacy, increased resale value, and energy efficiency, to name just a few. The best part is that basement remodeling costs only about 10-15 percent as much as building out. So get busy choosing pretty and practical light fixtures and floor coverings to enhance your newfound space, but don't forget one important item ... the egress window.

What Is an Egress Window?

Every room used for the purpose of sleeping requires a direct opening to the outdoors, to allow for emergency escape and rescue. Therefore, unless you have a walkout basement, you will need to include some form of egress from each bedroom. Most commonly, this is a window, although legally it may also be a low skylight or a door. (If you can work it into your basement remodel design, a door is an excellent choice. It provides more privacy and independence when you are creating a studio apartment to be used as an in-law flat or a rental unit -- subject to local zoning laws, of course. However, the layout of many basements does not allow for door installation.)

While this type of opening is not a requirement for other basement remodels, such as a home office, gym, games room, or family room, it's still a good idea to include an egress window in the construction. You'll be glad of the flexibility it allows in case you want to change the room's purpose some day -- or use it as an occasional guest room right now.

Egress Window Specs

International Building Code specifications for egress windows are very demanding -- with good reason, as they are designed to save lives. The bottom of any egress window is required to be no more than 44 inches above floor level. The net clear opening must be at least 5 square feet for a basement bedroom, the amount of space required to admit a firefighter wearing protective gear and carrying an air tank on his/her back. Note that this refers to the open space available to crawl through, and not merely the total area of the window. The egress opening, as well as window bars, if any, must be operable from the inside, without any keys or other devices, to permit fast exit. For basements, the most practical style of egress window is usually a casement.

Window Well

The nature of a basement is that generally most or all of it is located underground. For this reason, an egress window will need a window well to make it functional. This is an outdoor excavated area adjacent to the egress window. Code specifies that the well's horizontal dimensions must be a minimum of 9 feet, with a horizontal projection of at least 36 inches. The top of the window well is required to be 6 or more inches above the soil line, with steps or a ladder provided. Construction of the well will be much easier if you excavate it first, before installing the egress window. Ensure proper drainage. A cover or grate may be installed on top of the window well to keep out small animals such as skunks, but it is subject to the same operating principles as the egress opening itself.

Egress Window as a Design Element

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Basement remodel? don't forget the egress window!

While the recent razing of the ASB Building on Broadway was obvious to any passerby, the extreme makeover next door wont be apparent for a few months yet.

The Medical Office Building (MOB) is being remodeled to house what will be called St. Rose Health Center; the name change from St. Rose Ambulatory & Surgery Center would occur as a result of a successful joint venture between Hays Medical Center and Centura Health, which continues to be negotiated.

The MOB, which opened in 2009, will be home to existing and new services.

St. Rose Senior Vice President Leanne Irsik outlined the basics of how the facility will be re-configured.

A new entrance will be added to the southeast side.The first floor will accommodate registration just inside the main entrance, where the atrium is now.Other first-floor occupants will include St. Rose Family Medicine & Urgent Care, infusion and specialty nursing, laboratory collection, occupational testing, and imaging and diagnostic services.The second floor will be home to the Specialty Clinic, Great Bend Internists and the licensed ambulatory surgery center.

Golden Belt Home Health & Hospice will remain in the Kirby Medical Office Building, located just south of St. Rose; other support offices also will move into the Kirby facility.

The ambulatory surgery center will include one main procedure room with three spaces for patient care before and after procedures, Irsik said. These are same-day procedures that require local or regional anesthesia or sedation. The most common are minor biopsies, endoscopies, colonoscopies, pain management and carpel tunnel treatment.

The parking lot will be directly south of the lobby, outside the new entrance. Parking also will be available on the west side. After the new building opens, the west entrance temporarily will be used while the east end is completed after the circular towers are separated from the MOB.

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Remodeling progresses at St. Roses Medical Office Building

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (AP) - To appreciate the history behind the Sanford House, start with the wallpaper mural in the grand entrance hall of the 168-year-old pillared landmark.

Depicting scenes of life in the Americas in the 1820s, the design is called Vues dAmrique du Nord. It was created by Jean Zuber, a French artist whose company made luxury handmade wall coverings in the late 19th Century, according to The Grand Rapids Press (http://bit.ly/1yKkk6T ).

In 1960, First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy salvaged the same woodblock-printed wallpaper and installed it in the Diplomatic Reception Room of the White House. Youll also find the pattern in the dining room of the Old Governors Mansion in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and the elegant Monmouth Historic Inn in Natchez, Mississippi.

Zuber never visited America, but painted scenes from places and events about which he had heard and read. Hence, Boston Harbor has tropical Spanish moss hanging from its trees and the Indians look like they are from India, not North America.

Rae Green, who restored the house in Grand Rapids with her husband, David, said shes amazed the murals have survived all of the owners and non-profit agencies who have occupied the home since the wallpaper was installed during a 1907 remodeling.

There have been stories that some of the owners almost took it down, said Green, who will operate Sanford House as a private treatment center for women with addictions to alcohol and drugs.

The Greens bought the house for $365,000 in July after it served as an office building for several health and recovery-related agencies over the previous 23 years. Since then, they have invested more than $1 million while restoring and remodeling the home for its next life.

Green makes no apologies for the plush setting, the in-house chef or the $20,000-per-month fee they will charge their clients. Out-patient clients will be charged $600 a week for three-hour thrice-weekly sessions.

There is so much stigma when it comes to someone getting treatment for substance abuse, she said. Sometimes, the stigma is even greater for women.

We want to create an environment that was comfortable so they could focus on the work that they are there to do and restore their lives and the lives of their families.

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168-year-old Grand Rapids house restored as treatment center

Hackensack, n.j. When designer Marlene Wangenheim was called in to renovate a master bath, her client was looking to make the space beautiful and comfortable.

But Wangenheim, of Interiors by Design in Morristown, N.J., thought the 50-something client should think about the long term, and what she might need as she aged.

The result is an expansive, three-room luxury renovation, but with a secret: It can accommodate a person who uses a wheelchair or walker. Design choices like low shelves, an oversized shower and wider doorways mean that the homeowner can keep using the room even if she loses mobility.

This kind of accessible design is expected to become more popular as the giant baby boomer generation ages. Experts say even small design choices can help people stay in their homes in their later years which, according to polls, most want to do. And, as in the Kinnelon bathroom, the accommodations dont have to be obvious or look institutional.

One obstacle to the use of accessible design, however, is that a lot of homeowners resist the idea that they might ever become disabled. Often, theyll say, Theres nothing wrong with me; I dont need a grab bar.

Rather than raise the thought of disability, Wangenheim tries a softer approach, saying, How about we make it so you dont have to worry if youre still in the house in 10 or 15 years? And she paints the design choices as ideas that would make the homeowner comfortable now: for example, rounded edges so they dont bump into sharp corners if they use the bathroom in the middle of the night.

Stephen Melman, director of economic services at the National Association of Home Builders, agreed that many accessible design choices such as curbless showers and improved lighting make homes safer and more comfortable for able-bodied people, too.

If youre bathing a young child in the tub, would it be such a bad thing to have a grab bar and 50 years later, use it yourself? he asked.

Companies that make these products are increasingly trying to win over customers by making them look less institutional offering, for example, designer grab bars in finishes like brushed nickel or bronze, with detailing that mimics towel bars.

Maria Stapperfenne, president-elect of the National Kitchen and Bath Association, said that many products that were designed for accessibility have made it into the mainstream for example, curbless showers, improved kitchen lights, and console bathroom vanities with space underneath.

Excerpt from:
Remodeling Ideas For Aging, Illness

If you are considering remodeling or redecorating an existing home, or if you are building a new home, the space planning and design aesthetic is extremely important to your long-term happiness with the results.

It is vital to have an outside, objective and professional perspective that can allow you to plan appropriately, choose items wisely and prepare for future need s.

Beyond decorating, interior designers also understand building codes, can provide illustrations and renderings and help the homeowner decide the ultimate goals with the space.

These three tips help when deciding what to do with an existing space.

Find a focus: Choose something that you like doing in that room. Whether the room is for conversation, eating, or entertaining, decide the focus of the space.

Then, take one item from that room and center the design aesthetic around that piece. It could be an accent pillow, piece of art or a family heirloom that has been handed down for generations.

Mix and match: Do not feel like every color, texture and style has to match within the room. If it does, the look appears more formal, but less tailore d.

Instead of using the same style for everything, use varying designs for lampshades, art, frames and pillows.

Choose sizes wisely: Analyze the size of your furniture and accessories. Many people choose furniture that is too big and accessories that are too small.

Think about the scale of your items and realize that smaller furniture can make the room feel larger.

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House Calls: Redoing rooms

BEND, Ore. -

From the inside, Mosaic Medical's newest clinic in southeast Bend is small --500 square feet --but still looks pretty typical: exam rooms and medical supplies.

Head outside, though, and you'll see it's not so ordinary: The clinic is housed in an apartment complex -- in an old laundry room, to be exact.

It took about $50,000 to upgrade the room from a place holding washing machines to a room fit for medical care.

There are two exam rooms, and another room that doubles as an office for clinicians and a small lab.

A couple dozen people gathered at Ariel Glen Apartments Tuesday to celebrate that accomplishment and more.

The clinic is the first of its kind in the region, but it's really the result of a bigger endeavor -- a nearly $12 million project renovating and upgrading the low-income apartments at Ariel Glen and nearby Healy Heights.

The project was funded by community partners, including PNC Real Estate, and was spearheaded by Housing Works. Mosaic Medical put in about $20,000 in supplies and equipment for the new clinic.

The renovations included new sidings, paint on the buildings and remodeling of the individual units. Each apartment also was outfitted with washing machines and dryers, so the complex's laundry room was no longer necessary.

"We'll be providing well-women exams, regular physical exams, wellness visits, sickness visits," said the clinic's resident nurse practitioner, Lisa Gladden.

See more here:
Bend apartments' old laundry room now clinic

Medical Center Enterprise is preparing for many upcoming construction projects in the coming months, including two projects this weekend.

Between Dec. 12 and 14, the patient parking lot located across the street from the hospital is being completely restriped to create a better flow of traffic for patients and visitors.

Parking will be blocked off in sections but alternate parking will be available close to the entrance to the hospital. Also, during equipment installation, all patients and visitors will be asked to enter through the emergency room entrance through a door marked Emergency until installation is complete.

Once installation is complete, all visitors can enter through the main entrance, located under a sign that says Hospital once again. All hospital services will continue as usual during these projects, but visitors and patients are advised to follow signage and instructions.

This construction is all part of a $1.3 million renovation project that will create a new, modernized look for MCE. Construction has already begun on the Medical Centers third floor, the medical inpatient floor and future plans include the remodeling of the second floor patient rooms.

Some projects that have already been completed are the addition of new flooring for the main lobby and the emergency room, as well as an addition of a multi-purpose classroom in the lobby of the Womens Center.

For additional construction news and updates, please visit MCEHospital.com.

Excerpt from:
MCE emergency room entrance, parking changes Dec. 12-14

Democratic Sen. Linda Newell of Littleton packs up her office at the Colorado Capitol in preparation to move to another office on December 9, 2014. Lawmakers in both the House and the Senate are moving offices, the biggest change is in the Senate where Republicans are moving into the majority offices for the first time in a decade. Republicans won the majority in the November elections. (Craig F. Walker, The Denver Post)

WATCH: Learn more about renovations at the Colorado Capitol

Visitors to the state Capitol on Tuesday weaved in and out of carts loaded with boxes and furniture as Senate Democrats migrated for the first time in a decade to the minority offices and Senate Republicans moved into the vacated digs.

"It's moving day," said Sen. Linda Newell, D-Littleton, trying to figure out what to do with all of her stuff because she had been assigned to a smaller office.

But the move is more than just exchanging offices. Extensive remodeling is going on under the Gold Dome to restore the Senate and House chambers to their original look and to give more lawmakers individual or bigger offices. Hard-hat-only signs are still displayed in spots at the Capitol.

Almost half of the lawmakers will have offices across East Colfax Avenue in what was the attorney general's building and now houses other state operations, including the personnel department.

Back at the Capitol, what used to be the House Services Office, which included bullpens for individual lawmakers, a reception area and mail boxes, has been gutted and will be a large committee room.

Republican Senate President-Elect Bill Cadman of Colorado Springs talks with a tour about the newly renovated Senate chambers at the Colorado Capitol, Tuesday, December 9, 2014. (Craig F. Walker, The Denver Post)

WATCH: Democrats move into their new offices at the Colorado Legislature

Next door, the Senate Minority Office has new carpet and new tile. Gone are the tiny cubicles outside the minority leader and assistant minority leader's offices that housed six lawmakers, replaced with individual offices for three lawmakers. Senate Democrats will call this home for the next two years.

Continued here:
Colorado legislature undergoes change with office moves, remodeling

ALBUQUERQUE (KRQE) Albuquerque Public Schoolssays parents can expect construction to shift towards middle schools in the near future. The district cut the ribbon on one of its latest construction projects Tuesday, holding an open house at Dolores Gonzales Elementary near the Rio Grande Zoo. Some of the highlights include new classrooms, a new playground, a new a music room and a soon to be completed remodeled cafeteria.

Teachers say the work means a lot to them and the kids.

They feel so special, they feel so fortunate and lucky to be in this place, said Valerie Barrera a kindergarten teacher at Dolores Gonzales Elementary School.

While Delores Gonzales Elementary has been on the docket for a major revamp for years, the district says there are a lot of other schools that need work, including many middle schools.

It never stops, said Kizito Wijenje, executive director for Albuquerque Public Schools Capital Master Plan program.

Wijenje says for about the last six years, APS has put hundreds of millions of dollars into revamping high schools and building new schools. But with enrollment leveling off, the district says its shift its focus.

The emphasis is rejuvenating our older schools, starting with our high schools, our older schools on average are 50 to 60 years old, said Wijenje.

In the next six months, APS says it will break ground on remodeling at Rio Grande High in the South Valley, West Mesa High near Coors and Interstate 40, and Valley High School in the North Valley.The projects are top priority according to the districts current five-year Capital Master Plan which ends in 2016. Its not just the high school though.

>>READ: Albuquerque Public Schools November 2014 construction report.

We also will be looking into rebuilding most of the middle schools, said Wijenje.

Link:
Middle schools to get APS remodeling funds next

Becky Harris, Houzz Contributor

Oh, that dread you wake up in the middle of the night to take a trip to the bathroom, but you know that cold tile will chill all the toastiness right out of your feet. Or you come in from a chilly football game longing to take a luxurious soak in the tub, but the thought of shedding your layers of fleece stops you in your tracks. Soon it will be that time of year when you want your bathroom to raise your body temperature. Here are 14 suggestions that range from something you can do in minutes for a few bucks to dream-space renovation ideas.

Add a cozy rug. A bath mat does not have to be a shaggy little rectangle. Add an Oriental rug to enjoy underfoot during fall and winter. The rich colors will warm up the look of the room as well.

Be sure to add a rug pad or rug tape that will grip the floor underneath any bathroom rug to prevent slips.

10 elements of a dream master bath

Blend beautiful natural materials. Soapstone sinks atop wood countertops add so much warmth to this bathroom. It looks like the natural beauty of a rock outcropping in the woods.

Take a different approach to lighting. We tend to think there is a certain type of characterless light we need to choose for bathrooms, like those flush-mount boob lights. This is not true; open your mind and browse the type of lighting you would usually associate with a foyer or dining room.

If you are installing a hanging chandelier or pendant light in a bathroom, work with a licensed electrician who knows the codes inside and out. A chandelier cannot be within reach of someone standing in a bathtub full of water; the fixtures will also need to be properly grounded, and youll need a high ceiling.

Consider heated floors. One of the most luxurious things you can do to make your bathroom toasty in chilly weather is invest in radiant-heat flooring. If you are planning any renovations, learn more about what this entails and what the payoffs are.

If you dont have room in the budget for such a large investment, talk to your electrician about installing a bathroom-safe heater you can turn on before your bath or shower. Again, working with licensed pros is a must; you dont want to scrimp on safety with electronics in the bathroom.

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14 Ways To Warm Up Your Bathroom For Winter